Police in Wales investigate spiking by injection reports

Reports of people being spiked by injection are being investigated by police in Wales.

South Wales Police said it had been contacted about a "small number" of alleged spiking cases involving needles.

Dyfed-Powys Police is also making inquiries after a "suspected needle assault" was reported to them.

The forces said they had contacted pubs and clubs to alert them about the reports.

It comes as the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said there had been hundreds of reports of drink spiking and spiking by needle across Britain in the past couple of months.

South Wales Police said it had, in the past, trained staff at city centre licensed premises to help them keep people safe from spiking.

"We regularly see examples of where this training has paid off," the force said.

"In addition, we are working with licensed premises to alert them to spiking methods that have been reported in other areas of the UK, and asking them to be extra vigilant at this time."

Dyfed-Powys Police's Insp Matthew Howells said it was investigating an assault reported in Aberystwyth on Wednesday evening.

"On this occasion it is believed that no liquid has been injected into the victim," Insp Howells said.

He said the force was aware of posts about spiking by needle that had appeared on social media.

It was also working with the local authority, and pubs and clubs, to let them know about concerns.

Insp Howells said: "We are also working with the university to identify other persons referred to in social media posts so that our investigations can use every opportunity to gather evidence to identify suspects."

The NPCC said there had been about 140 confirmed reports in September and October of drink spiking, and 24 reports of injections.

It said the "concerning number" included both men and women, with the majority of cases involving young women.

Alleged attacks were known to have taken place in England, Scotland and Wales.

The organisation's drugs lead, Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin, said alleged offences had taken place at licensed premises and private parties.

"We are working at pace with forces, law enforcement agencies such as the NCA (National Crime Agency) and other partners including the Home Office and universities to understand the scale of offending, establish any links between the allegations and ultimately bring any identified offenders to justice," he said.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked police forces for an update following a number of cases of women reporting being spiked by needles in nightclubs.

In Nottingham two men have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into spiking incidents.

A boycott of clubs in some cities, including Cardiff, will take place on 29 October.