VAWG event

VAWG event

Just some feedback regarding the recent event we run.

On Friday 21 August, a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) engagement event was conducted across two locations: outside The Firkin Pub in Hornchurch and BrewDog in Upminster. The event ran for a total of four hours, with two hours spent at each venue.

The primary aim of the engagement was to raise awareness of spiking offences, with a particular focus on the emerging issue of vape spiking. Officers were equipped with a testing device capable of screening vapes for illegal substances, which generated significant interest and helped facilitate conversations with members of the public.

Throughout the event, we engaged with a large number of people from a variety of age groups. Feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, with many individuals expressing appreciation for the information provided. Several members of the public shared personal experiences of friends or family members who had previously been victims of spiking incidents, most commonly young females whilst attending university.

A key finding from the engagement was that none of the individuals spoken to were aware that vapes could be used as a means of spiking. When provided with practical examples, such as accepting a vape from an unknown person in a smoking area at a pub or nightclub, people quickly recognised how easily this could occur. Many stated that they would share this information with friends and family, helping to further raise awareness within the community.

Overall, the event was well received and successfully increased public awareness around both traditional drink spiking and the lesser-known risk of vape spiking, while also providing reassurance and strengthening community engagement.