Engagement discussing Spiking: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
1. Please provide the dates of all meetings of the ministerial roundtable on spiking.
2. Please provide who was in attendance at each of these meetings and who provide apologies to the meeting.
3. Please provide the agenda, minutes and any supporting papers discussed at these meetings.
Response
1. Ministerial Roundtable on Spiking - Meeting Dates
In response to the increased reports of drink and drug spiking, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training held an urgent Roundtable event on 4 November 2021.
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans chaired a further two roundtable events (8 December 2021 and 29 June 2022) to consider how we can achieve the right balance of targeted and universal intervention to ensure the safety of the public.
On 8 September 2022 the Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training chaired a fourth roundtable event in advance of students returning to University.
2. Ministerial Roundtable on Spiking - Attendance / Apologies
Spiking engages interests across a number of areas including; victims organisations, violence against women and girls policy, policing, prosecution, health, higher and further education, community safety initiatives, and the night time economy.
I enclose a copy of the information you requested which can be found within Annex A.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to part of this information. Further explanation can be found below.
3. Ministerial Roundtable on Spiking - Agenda, Minutes and Papers
I attach a copy of some of the information you requested which can be found within Annex B.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to that information. The Minutes and papers are of an operational and sensitive nature and are not designed for consumption outwith the group. Further explanation as to why this exemption has been applied can be found below.
The Scottish Government has been working with members of the roundtable to bring together the range of initiatives and key messaging to reassure the public that there is a coordinated response to the dangers of spiking, in whatever form it might take. Information has been made available on the safer.scot website, to inform and support the public around the subject of spiking. The website continues to be promoted by the roundtable membership, and by the representative organisations and sectors.
You may be aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans provided further context in response to recent Parliamentary questions lodged by Russell Findlay, MSP, highlighting the ongoing work and initiatives to tackle spiking cases in Scotland.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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