Extra searches pledge by bar bosses over spiking fears
New measures to be brought in atTingle
A Stirling city centre bar has vowed to ramp up searches and refuse entry to lone customers following rising fears about drinks being spiked.
On Wednesday, we told how police are probing a report that a woman’s drink was spiked at the Tingle bar, in King Street, Stirling, whilst on a night out on Saturday.
Police confirmed they are investigating reports that the woman was drugged after her friend took to social media to detail the incident - as well as another local complaint of spiking.
It comes as reports of spiking rise across Scotland with police probing claims people were injected with drugs against their knowledge in Glasgow and Dundee.
In response, bosses at Tingle say they have spoken to local authorities to draft up new measures.
In a post on their Instagram page, the bar said: “After liaising with local authorities and garnering suggestions from staff and customers regarding the wider issue of drink spiking in bars and clubs across Scotland, we have a number of new measures that we will be looking to implement in the coming weeks.
“We have a duty to keep people safe when they visit and we will continue to do all we can in this regard.”
Among the new measures, all customers will be subject to a mandatory search on entry.
Optional bottle and glass covers and straws will also be offered.
There will be additional public area checks and all unattended drinks will be binned.
Lone customers will also be denied entry to the popular King Street bar.
Bosses will also put up posters around the venue offering advice and staff will be provided with updated guidelines on how to deal with concerns or complaints and they will be given additional training on how to spot warning signs.
The venue will have a female bouncer on duty where possible.
Following claims that a woman had her drink spiked at Tingle at the weekend, bosses said that they had not “received any official complaints of this nature”, but added: “We stand ready and willing to help in any way we can.”
Police insist there have been no reports of people being spiked by injection in Stirling.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of posts circulating on social media about spiking incidents involving injections in Scotland.
“Officers are carrying out enquiries, and a small number of reports from the Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow areas are being investigated.
“These do not appear to be linked. “We take all reports seriously and we would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of spiking in any form to contact Police via 101.”
Stirling SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed this week wrote to Forth Valley Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson to call for more action over local “anxieties”.
CS Gibson has since responded to the MSP, confirming that enquiries have resulted in contact with two potential victims in relation to drink spiking in Stirling.
He wrote: “Our understanding of each incident is at this time limited, based on witness recall at present. Regardless, given the worrying nature of the reports, my team at Stirling Police Station are actively investigating the circumstances to evidence any acts of criminality.”
He also added: “It is crucial that I highlight that my officers are acutely aware of concerns around personal safety which may be felt particularly by females right now.”
He vowed police will “continue to be vigilant to this type of crime”.