Agenda item

The Committee had before it a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Houghton in the following terms:-

“that the Committee:-

(1)    Notes with regret, the recent reporting of increased spiking of women in night clubs in Aberdeen;

(2)    Notes with regret, the apparent use of syringes for spiking and the heightened alarm this will cause;

(3)    Commends the work of Reclaim these Streets Aberdeen, and others in raising awareness and providing safety advice;

(4)    Encourages all nightlife venues in Aberdeen to increase their existing precautions and to explore other reasonable measures to ensure their venues are safe for nightlife in Aberdeen;

(5)    Instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to write to nightclubs in Aberdeen asking them to provide assurance on what steps they will take to increase the safety of their customers; and

(6)    Instructs the Chief Officer - Governance to write to Police Scotland Divisional Commander for Aberdeen asking for an update on reports of drink spiking, including numbers of reported incidents, arrests and what campaigns or other measures are ongoing with the night-time hospitality sector and to provide the response to this request to all members of the committee.

Councillor Houghton moved his motion and explained the rationale behind his request.

The Committee heard from the Divisional Commander in relation to the current situation regarding drug related incidents and arrests in terms of the night-time hospitality sector, indicating that there was a broad divergence of circumstances which were not just confined to nightclubs.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note with regret, the recent reporting of increased spiking of women in night clubs in Aberdeen;

(ii)       to note with regret, the apparent use of syringes for spiking and the heightened alarm this will cause;

(iii)      to commend the work of Reclaim these Streets Aberdeen, and others in raising awareness and providing safety advice;

(iv)      to encourage all nightlife venues in Aberdeen to increase their existing precautions and to explore other reasonable measures to ensure their venues are safe for all patrons in Aberdeen;

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to write to nightlife venues, asking them to provide assurance on what steps they will take to increase the safety of their customers and to confirm what procedures are in place to ensure customers are safe should they present to staff as being under the influence of drugs or excessive alcohol;

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to engage with the Local Licensing Forum and Aberdeen Inspired’s Night-Time Economy Manager to work with the nightlife industry within Aberdeen to assist premises in the City to mitigate against further incidents of spiking; and

(vii)     to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to write to Police Scotland Divisional Commander for Aberdeen asking for an update on reports of drink spiking, including numbers of reported incidents, arrests and what campaigns or other measures are ongoing with the night-time hospitality sector and to provide the response to this request to all members of the committee in the form of a service update.