If the test indicates spiking, the PSNI will be notified
The PSNI and Queen’s University have teamed up to introduce the rollout of a new testing initiative aimed at preventing spiking in bars and clubs.
Launched during Freshers’ Week, the ‘Drink Check’ initiative is designed to provide reassurance, raise awareness, and deter potential drink spikers. It comes after concerns were raised by students to the Queen’s Neighbourhood Engagement team, who spearheaded the initiative.
Through the project, Queen’s has purchased specialist drink spiking test kits, and partnered with PSNI to distribute and manage them across 33 popular Belfast venues.
Venues involved are:
- The Queen’s Students’ Union Bar
- The Botanic Inn
- The Hatfield
- Bootleggers
- The Points
- Thompsons
- Lavery’s
- Limelight
- Lux Nightclub
- The Maverick
- Happy’s Belfast
- The Marcus Ward
- Kremlin
- Revolution De Cuba
- Wetherspoons
- Liquid
- The Harp Bar
- The Duke of York
- Haymarket
- White’s Tavern
- The Dirty Onion
- The Thirsty Goat
- The Parlour
- Common Market
- 39 Gordon Street
- Beehive
- The Telegraph Building
- The Dark Horse
- The Crown
- Brennans’ Bar
- The Empire
- Robinsons
- Benedicts
Each venue listed above will display posters making it clear that drink testing is available on-site. They have also been supplied with drink testing strips. If a customer believes their drink may have been tampered with, they can bring it to the bar where staff will check it using the test kits. If the test indicates spiking, the PSNI will be notified and will investigate. CCTV from the venue will be checked to help identify the individual responsible.
In addition, all venues involved in the initiative have been provided with ‘Ask for Angela’ materials – a discreet mechanism that enables patrons to use a code-word to seek help from bar staff if they feel unsafe or vulnerable.
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