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Birmingham nightclub to offer drink-spiking testing kits

BBC Entrance to the NightingaleBBC
The kits are being provided at the Nightingale club in Birmingham

A nightclub is offering free testing kits to revellers amid the recent spate of spikings in the UK.

The move at the Nightingale in Birmingham comes after growing reports of drinks being spiked and needles being used to target people.

Liquid is placed at either end of the testing strips and they change colour to show if a drink has been spiked.

The club's owner Lawrence Barton said staff wanted to do everything they could to reassure people.

Example of the drink spike test strip
The testing strips can indicate if drink has been spiked with either GHB or ketamine

Mr Barton said the club would also make sure anti-spiking drink covers were made available.

"Our customers are very pleased that we are taking these measures to ensure we are trying to mitigate against this issue," he added.

Lawrence Barton
Club owner Lawrence Barton said he hoped the anti-spiking measures would reassure revellers

West Midlands Police said it had received a small number of reports of spikings in Birmingham city centre over the last few months.

They said they would take all reports seriously and encouraged anyone who thought they had been a victim of spiking to come forward.

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