7 people ‘spiked with needles’ on night out at Pitcher and Piano in Tunbridge Wells

Seven people were reportedly spiked with needles on a night out at a bar in Tunbridge Wells.

Kent Police officers are investigating reports that drinks may have been tampered with or needles used to administer substances to customers at Pitcher & Piano on Church Road.

Between midnight and 3am on Sunday (November 21), a group of three women, a group of two women and a man, and a single man all reported feeling unwell after visiting the venue.

Read more: Needle spiking needs to be treated with the ‘same urgency as terrorism’

One of the women reported feeling a pain in one arm and one of the men has since located what he believes to be a syringe mark on his arm.

No further offences were reported against the victims, who are in their late teens and 20s, and none of the complainants witnessed or recovered needles.

Chief Inspector Lizzie Jones, Tunbridge Wells district commander, said: “Investigators are working with this venue and carrying out enquiries into the circumstances including a review of CCTV footage.

“We take all reported incidents seriously and officers from our dedicated Community Safety Unit work closely with the town’s night-time venues to make them hostile places for those who may seek to exploit others and ensure members of staff recognise the signs of spiking and other criminal behaviour that might take place.

“Every incident reported to us is thoroughly investigated to identify any suspects and provide support and assurance to victims.

“We continue to encourage people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security staff in the first instance, to ensure immediate action can be taken and everyone can continue to socialise safely.

“Please remember that there is always help and support available if you need it, including via the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme where women can discreetly alert staff if they feel uneasy about a person they are with and require intervention.”

This comes after it was revealed that there have been 280 reported cases of spiking with a needle in the UK over the past two months, compared to 2,600 recorded cases of drink spiking between 2015 and 2019.

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Article Source: Kent Live