'Spiking' incident in parliament investigated by police

15 January 2025, 17:13 | Updated: 15 January 2025, 20:00

Police are investigating an alleged spiking incident in the Houses of Parliament last week.

First reported to parliamentary authorities, the investigation has now been passed to the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for the Met said: "Police received reports of an alleged spiking at an establishment in the House of Commons, on Tuesday 7 January at around 6.30pm.

"The investigation is ongoing and the victim is being supported by officers.

"There have been no arrests at this stage."

Politics latest: Starmer backs Reeves as pound rises back up

MPs returned to parliament on Monday 6 January following their Christmas break.

A spokesperson for the House of Commons 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."

Politico reported the alleged incident happened in Strangers' Bar, one of the on-site venues on the parliamentary estate that serves alcohol.

The alleged victim is understood to be someone who works in parliament, but not a politician.

Concerns have resurfaced at various times about the serving of alcohol in parliament, with some saying alcohol should be banned.

Click to subscribe to The Open Secret wherever you get your podcasts

Jenny Symmons, the chair of the GMB union branch based in parliament for those who work on the estate, said: "This incident 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.

"We send our complete solidarity to victims of abuse in our workplace and are here to support any staff members feeling unsafe or upset in relation to this news."

Latest UK and World News

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.

Mysterious death of British couple in French villa suspected murder-suicide as investigators consider new theories

displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops withdraw from key militarised corridor that splits Gaza in two as part of ceasefire deal

Andrew Gwynne.

Minister sacked after posting he hoped 'pensioner who didn’t vote Labour would die' in WhatsApp group

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games.

Meghan and Prince Harry cheer on Team UK at Invictus Games opening ceremony