AQW 47530/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 01/06/2026
Answered On Date: 16/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on her Department's work to address drink spiking.

Answer:

As you may be aware, the UK Crime and Policing Act 2026 achieved Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.

The Act repeals sections 22, 23 and 25 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (1861 Act) and replaces section 24 with a single, modern administering a harmful substance (including by spiking) offence which will be triable either way. The new offence will continue to criminalise broadly the same behaviour that is criminalised under sections 23 and 24 of the 1861 Act.

The legislation aims to make it clear that spiking is illegal, encourage victims to report incidents and support the police in bringing offenders to justice.

My Department is engaged with stakeholders to ensure that everything will be in place for commencement of this new legislation here in Northern Ireland, with a view to commencing the provision in line with England and Wales as far as is practicable

My officials have convened and lead on a drink spiking legislation implementation working group, which consists of representatives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Departmental Solicitor’s Office (DSO), Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Forensic Science NI (FSNI), Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) and the Home Office. This group continues to work towards ensuring readiness for the new legislation.

My Department and the PSNI are represented on the TEO-led Safer Socialising Steering Group (part of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls - EWAWG - Programme) where issues such as drink spiking can be considered with a wide range of relevant stakeholder representatives. I also very much welcome initiatives such as the PSNI’s ‘Project Valiant’ and the work of the Security Industry Authority in our shared endeavours to address issues such as drink spiking.