15 January 2025 , 20:52
500
0
Police are investigating a report that a woman had her drink spiked in one of the bars in the Houses of Parliament.
The parliamentary researcher reported her drink had been tampered with to bar staff and security in the early evening of Tuesday 7 January, the second day of Parliament after the festive break.
The alleged incident happened in the Strangers’ Bar, which is is open to MPs and their guests as well as parliamentary staff, at about 18:30.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation is under way and the victim is being supported, but no arrests have been made "at this stage".
A UK Parliament spokesperson also confirmed the alleged spiking, as first reported by Politico.
He said: "We are aware of an incident which took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service."
Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect trade union, said he would be seeking further information about the case and continuing his work to "ensure Parliamentary staff can feel safe in their workplace".
He added: "This is a very concerning alleged incident, especially given the long history of allegations about behaviour in Parliament."
Just before the Christmas break, a group of Labour backbench MPs submitted plans to curb sales of alcohol in Parliament during office hours to a committee looking at modernisation of Parliament.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned spiking as "a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims" as the government pledged a crackdown on violence against women and girls through the Crime and Policing Bill.
Parliament’s official complaints authority, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) has criticised Westminster’s heavy drinking culture as a "frequent factor" in complaints and breaches of the code of conduct.