Police have launched an urgent probe into a “spiking” incident in a bar in Parliament.
The incident occurred in Stranger’s Bar in the Palace of Westminster last week, but no arrests have been made so far.
As soon as the woman – who works on the estate as a parliamentary researcher – suspected her drink had been spiked, she looked for help.
The bar staff, as well as parliamentary security, were alerted immediately of the incident, while the Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation in response to the report.
The incident occurred in Stranger’s Bar in the Palace of Westminster at the start of January, but no arrests have been made so far
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A UK Parliament spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident which took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Officials from Parliament have emphasised that the alleged “spiking” is being taken seriously.
A spokesman for the Met said that the police force had “received reports of an alleged spiking at an establishment in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, 7 January at around 18:30hrs”.
They added in a statement earlier today: “The investigation is ongoing and the victim is being supported by officers. There have been no arrests at this stage.”
The force appealed for anyone who believes that they have been a victim or witness in a spiking incident to contact them immediately on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
“Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111,” they said.
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The bars on the parliamentary estate have been afflicted with persistent waves of criticism over the years for feeding an unhealthy drinking culture.
Parliament’s official complaints systems – the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme – has said that the “culture of drinking in Westminster” as a “frequent factor” in incidents where conduct was breached.
In fact, a group of new Labour MPs were searching for ways to make Westminster a healthier workplace by limiting alcohol access during the working day and were due to make their recommendations to the Modernisation Committee.
Jawad Raza – who works for the FDA trade union, representing Parliament’s staffers – said the alleged “spiking” incident was “deeply concerning” in “a workplace for thousands of staff, with hundreds of public visitors also on-site every day”.
Last year, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called spiking “a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims”
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He demanded that the appropriate authorities “assess the risks and take immediate action to prevent this happening again”.
Another union representative Jenny Symonds – who chairs the GMB Members’ Staff branch in Parliament -said the report “will understandably cause fear and distress across the parliamentary community, and with every story of abuse that makes headlines, there are likely to be more that go untold”.
She vowed that her organisation would “support any staff members feeling unsafe or upset in relation to this news”.
Last year, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called spiking “a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims”.