Police probe drink spiking report in parliament bar
Police are investigating a report {that a} girl had her drink spiked in one of many bars within the Homes of Parliament.
The parliamentary researcher reported her drink had been tampered with to bar employees and safety within the early night of Tuesday 7 January, the second day of Parliament after the festive break.
The alleged incident occurred within the Strangers’ Bar, which is is open to MPs and their visitors in addition to parliamentary employees, at about 18:30.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation is beneath method and the sufferer is being supported, however no arrests have been made “at this stage”.
A UK Parliament spokesperson additionally confirmed the alleged spiking, as first reported by Politico.
He mentioned: “We’re conscious of an incident which came about on the parliamentary property in early January, which was reported to parliamentary safety and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Mike Clancy, normal secretary of Prospect commerce union, mentioned he could be in search of additional details about the case and persevering with his work to “guarantee Parliamentary employees can really feel protected of their office”.
He added: “This can be a very regarding alleged incident, particularly given the lengthy historical past of allegations about behaviour in Parliament.”
Simply earlier than the Christmas break, a gaggle of Labour backbench MPs submitted plans to curb gross sales of alcohol in Parliament throughout workplace hours to a committee modernisation of Parliament.
Residence Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned spiking as “a disturbing and critical crime which might have a harmful and long-lasting affect on victims” as the federal government pledged a crackdown on violence in opposition to girls and ladies by way of the Crime and Policing Invoice.
Parliament’s official complaints authority, the Impartial Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) has criticised Westminster’s heavy ingesting tradition as a “frequent issue” in complaints and breaches of the code of conduct.
