(SPI0038)
Written evidence submitted by Stint (SPI0038)
Home Affairs Select Committee - Spiking inquiry
Executive summary
As a company created by students for students, it's important to us at Stint that we give a platform to the issues directly affecting this community. We recently carried out a survey to get students' views on the issues they care about - from their student finances to their experiences of studying during the pandemic. Given its relevance to the Committee’s inquiry, we wanted to share some insights we gathered as part of this survey on the prevalence of spiking, and how students have modified their behaviour as a result.
We have also shared some testimonials from students with permission, in order to highlight the impact spiking is having on this group.
About Stint
Stint connects hospitality businesses with students who want short, flexible shifts to do simple tasks at the busiest daily hours. We are ending the trade off between learning and earning by enabling students to work for two to three hours at a time, so they can fit work around their university lives. Since launching in 2018, students have completed Stints at over 1,000 businesses in 32 cities around the UK. As of this month, the company now has over 115,000 students signed up to the platform.
We recently sponsored 34 student ambassadors across 30 different university campuses to train in mental health first aid so that they can support their fellow students following the pandemic. In partnership with Mental Health First Aid England, the first training courses for these sponsored students began summer 2021, and will be offering the training to all new student ambassadors in 2022.
Answers to selected questions.
1.1 In our student survey we asked more broadly about student’s concerns regarding spiking. While this did not tell us exactly how common it is, it did give some indication of how common it is believed to be.
1.2 The research found that concerns about spiking in the student community are quite widespread, but that generally more females than males were likely to report they were concerned.
1.3 Overall, four in five (80%) students said that in light of the recent rise in cases that they were worried about spiking, or knew someone who was. Of this number, 88% of female students said they or someone they knew was concerned, compared with 69% of male students.
2.1 While we did not ask directly where or when students felt most at risk of being spiked, we did ask about the extent to which it has led them to modify their behaviour.
2.2 Due to the perception that most cases of spiking happen at nightclubs and bars, and the rise of the Girls Night In and the Stay in Wednesday movements, we asked students if they had taken part in the boycotts.
2.3 Our survey found 68% female students have boycotted night clubs in the past due to spiking. This compared with 54% male students who said they had taken part in a boycott. Overall 62% - which if extrapolated out equates to around 1.5million - students have boycotted night clubs in the past due to spiking.
2.4 Given the timing of when we carried out the survey, we also asked students about their plans for New Year’s Eve.
2.5 More than one in four (27%) students told us they would be avoiding clubbing to celebrate the New Year due to concerns about spiking, with almost a third (30%) of female students saying they wouldn't go out.
2.6 When broken down regionally, students in the West Midlands (36%), the South East (32%) and London (31%) had the highest proportion of students who said they would not visit a bar or nightclub on New Year’s Eve due to concerns about spiking. Yorkshire and the Humber (19%), North West (19%) and the East of England (21%) had the lowest proportions of students who expressed concerns regarding spiking on New Year's Eve.
2.7 On taking part in the boycotts, one student told us about the impact spiking is having on the university experience for females:
“On the “Stay in Wednesday” me and my all female housemate stayed in and watched films instead of going out. The boycotts are a nice idea to help show solidarity however, the spiking scares are resulting in less women going out which is such a shame, because what should be a fun experience for young women has now become a risk.”
3.1 On the subject of prevention efforts, one student told us:
“One of the clubs in which I thought to be safest, with thorough bag checks and drink covers, unfortunately became a place where my housemate’s friend who was visiting became a victim of spiking and then sexual assault. This was right outside of the club too. It’s so scary that that night she was out in a big group including lots of male friends too, so even with all the prevention, these assaults are still happening.”
3.2 Another student told of us she felt that there had been minimal response from the police or venues to the rise in cases:
“I was really concerned about the lack of preventative action from the bars and clubs themselves, and heard some awful stories about bouncers refusing to believe people claiming to have been spiked and instead just kicking them out of clubs/bars, separating them from friends and people who could help. Many students in XXXX, myself included, feel that the welfare of students rarely seems like a priority, as there were so many incidents of spiking and yet minimal response from police and the venues.”
About the research
Stint conducted a survey of 1,002 students across the country, reflective of the geographical and gender breakdown of students across Britain, between December 7 2021 and December 12 2021.
As part of our survey we collected some direct views from female students. These insights have been shared with permission.
Data tables
Q. Given the recent rise in drinks being spiked, are you or your friends concerned about spiking when going out for drinks?
| Female | Male | Total |
No | 12% | 31% | 20% |
Yes | 88% | 69% | 80% |
Q. Have you boycotted nightclubs due to rising levels of spiking?
| Female | Male | Total |
No | 32% | 46% | 38% |
Yes | 68% | 54% | 62% |
Q. Will your concern about spiking stop you from visiting bars or nightclubs on New Year's Eve?
| Female | Male | Total |
Don’t know | 36% | 31% | 34% |
No | 34% | 48% | 39% |
Yes | 30% | 21% | 27% |
Q. Will your concern about spiking stop you from visiting bars or nightclubs on New Year's Eve? (Split by GB regions)
| Don’t know | No | Yes |
West Midlands | 34% | 30% | 36% |
Scotland | 25% | 40% | 35% |
South East | 34% | 34% | 32% |
London | 40% | 30% | 31% |
South West | 29% | 45% | 27% |
East Midlands | 38% | 37% | 24% |
North East | 25% | 52% | 23% |
East of England | 37% | 42% | 21% |
North West | 35% | 46% | 19% |
Y&H | 31% | 50% | 19% |
Wales | 43% | 44% | 13% |
January 2022