As part of our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, hundreds of Hallam students signed a petition demanding Sheffield City Council (SCC) do more to hold venues accountable for tackling drink spiking. Now, we have great news - as of Friday 14 February 2025, SCC has agreed to work with us on reviewing its local licensing policy to include specific measures on drink spiking!
 

What we're asking for

The petition, presented to SCC's Waste & Street Scene Committee, calls for vital changes to ensure nightlife safety, including:

• Zero tolerance signage - Clear messaging in venues to deter offenders and reassure patrons.
• Mandatory staff training - Ensuring bar staff can identify spiking incidents and provide victim support.
• Clear policies on reporting and assistance - Venues must take immediate action to protect victims and facilitate reporting.
• Provision of cup covers - Available on request to help prevent spiking.
• Regular compliance checks - Spot checks to ensure venues follow the policy, with penalties for non-compliance.

These measures align with the Licensing Act 2003, which prioritises crime prevention and public safety. By embedding anti-spiking provisions into licensing policies, we're making Sheffield's nightlife safer and more accountable.
 

A step in the right direction

Presenting this petition was a major milestone, but it's just the beginning. Over the next year, we'll continue working with SCC to ensure these policies are implemented effectively. We'll also be conducting further consultations with students and collaborating with partners across the city to enhance night-time safety.

Maddie Bebbington, HSU Campaigns and Liberation Manager, said "We really welcomed the Council's response on this, and we look forward to organising student consultation towards the local licensing policy in the upcoming year. We know night-time safety more widely is a huge issue for students at the moment, so we'll be gearing up towards our next campaign activity as soon as possible."

Your experiences and voices matter. Many of you shared personal stories while signing the petition, highlighting just how prevalent drink spiking remains. Despite a decrease in formal reports since the 2021 surge, we believe this is a result of people seeing drink spiking as an unfortunate 'new normal', rather than an issue that should be tackled head-on. This campaign is about breaking that cycle and demanding real, long-term change!
 

Want to make an impact? Here's how you can help...

Attend Sheffield Students' Assembly

• Join us this Friday (21 February) to help us keep politicians aware of student safety concerns. MPs Abtisam Mohammed, Olivia Blake, and Clive Betts will be attending, so it's a chance to ensure your voice is heard.

Book your FREE ticket

Report incidents to Report + Support

• Even if you choose to stay anonymous, your reports help highlight the scale of the issue and push for stronger action. You can access support through the University's Report + Support platform.

Join the campaign

• If you're passionate about student safety and want to get involved in future anti-spiking initiatives, email us at campaigns@shu.ac.uk.

This campaign is proof that when students speak up, real change happens. Let's keep pushing for a safer, more accountable nightlife in Sheffield!