There has been an incident of needle spiking of football supporters in May 2022 during a match between KV Mechelen and Racing Genk. Furthermore, experts from the scientific and academic community have claimed the likelihood of being spiked by injection is extremely unlikely.

The BBC reported in 2019 that there had been a rise in the number of cases, with 2,600 reported incidents in England and Wales since 2015. As reports of spiking via injection started to emerge online, social media posts also began to circulate claiming that recently reported victims of needle injuries had later contracted HIV.A spokesperson for Universities UK, an advocacy organisation representing higher education establishments across the country, said: “The safety of students is of the utmost importance and universities are working together with local police forces, clubs and bars, and student unions to ensure they are fully aware of all risks to student safety. For example, during a 10,000-meter race indoors and outdoors, a runner's heel strikes and the toe follows. Spikes come in a variety of sizes: 1/8 inches - 5/8 inches; however, when in doubt, purchase 1/4" spikes. In November that year, there followed reports in Brighton and Eastbourne; [10] and it was reported that two women alleged they had been spiked with needles inside a Yorkshire nightclub.

The NPCC said that no cases of injection of drugs had been confirmed, and that there was one confirmed case of "needle-sticking", involving someone being jabbed, but not necessarily injected, with a needle; investigations were continuing to determine whether the needle contained any spiking drugs. Dr Veena Babu, a GP in London, meanwhile, added that injections in the thigh or upper arm are harder to feel, and the effects could take longer to kick in. This is subtly different from feelings of intoxication through alcohol according to some victims,” she added.It's not known exactly why needle spiking has started to happen, but Superintendent Kathryn Craner of Nottingham Police said: "We do not believe that these are targeted incidents; they are distinctly different from anything we have seen previously as victims have disclosed a physical scratch type sensation before feeling very unwell. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. This convenient 100-pack offers plenty of spares to keep you covered throughout your Track and Field season. As well as checking the legalities of the spikes, also consider where you usually train and compete.

With the investigations into the attacks still ongoing and new reports appearing frequently via social media, there’s very little we can say for sure about the specifics, but experts seem to agree that while it is plausible that spiking by injection could be carried out by an individual or very small group, it’s very unlikely that it’s being easily replicated on a wider scale. Universities, which have seen a particularly high number of reports about needle spiking, have condemned the incidents and said they are working with police to ensure student safety. Claims of spiking by injection have been propagated on social media, alongside other claims of drink spiking. Police Scotland also told Full Fact it had observed a “small but notable increase in October and November”.They are both high-powered sedatives that can knock people out, make them unable to walk, cause amnesia or put them in a coma. Both said that the recent cases were the first time they had heard reports of needles being used in spiking cases, and agreed that while it was certainly plausible that one or a very small number of attackers could have attempted to use needles to spike victims in bars and nightclubs, it’s unlikely that perpetrators could replicate the method easily on a wider scale. Norfolk Constabulary has said it has received six reports of people either being spiked or injected. Use them with caution because they can really sink into the track, requiring effort to get them out again. It's therefore essential to take your shoes off before walking off the track or over concrete if you own spikes of this type.

Deborah Gold, the chief executive of the National AIDS Trust, told Reuters: “In the UK it is recommended that people wait six weeks after possible exposure to test for HIV. Forces were aware of 14 secondary offences, such as sexual assault or theft, potentially linked to needle spiking, he added.Police across the UK are investigating dozens of reports of people being spiked with needles in clubs and bars, with fears of a worrying new trend emerging. Alternative Spikes Athletes often go for any one of the above spikes, depending on what their main disciplines are. She added: "And if someone has had a drink or so, they might be less inclined to feel the scratch of a needle. In response, a number of women from university cities decided to boycott nightclubs for "girls' nights in". Three women who reported feeling unwell after nights out in Exeter and suspected they may have been spiked via needles were found to have no traces of spiking drugs in their systems, while police in St Albans said there was no evidence to suggest a woman who reported a potential incident of spiking via injection had been the victim of an offence.