Shock rise in date-rape drug attacks

New figures released today have heightened fears about the risk of drug assisted rape.

The Evening Standard has learned that the number of people in London coming forward to complain of having their drinks spiked quadrupled in a year.

Some of the victims were raped or sexually assaulted. Others were robbed.

Experts fear the figures represent the tip of the iceberg, because many more victims are too frightened or confused to raise the alarm.

The data was compiled by the Roofie Foundation, the campaign group set up to help victims of drug rape.

It is now backing the launch of a DIY testing kit that will allow people to check whether their drinks have been tampered with. The £2 kit goes on sale in pubs and clubs next month. Meanwhile,

in Enfield, police officers have been carrying out their own spot checks in venues, amid concerns that sex attackers are operating in the borough.

Graham Rhodes, chief executive of The Roofie Foundation, said women must be on their guard.

"It is a very worrying situation. The public need to be more aware of the risk of having their drink spiked - particularly single women. If you look at our statistics, the typical person who gets drugged is a single woman, 28 to 58, drinking in a pub. Women need

to be very aware when they are out and about."

According to national figures compiled by the foundation, around 1,000 people were drugged and raped in 2001-2.

In London, 177 victims approached the foundation for help in 2001. But in 2002 that figure had increased to 785.

Drug rapists put drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB into intended victims' drinks.

One of the difficulties facing police is that victims often have only a hazy recollection of their ordeal, and are often unable to provide much information about their assailant.

In total, campaigners estimate that there have been nearly 4,000 incidents of drug rape since 2000 - yet less than 20 have ever led to a conviction.

A spokesman from Surescreen Diagnostics, which has has developed the testing kit for spiked drinks, said: "This is the first time that a test of this kind has been available to consumers."