Member

My Amendments 333 and 334 on spiking would add recklessness to the offence. It is important that this law reflects the reality of what can happen when a person is spiked. The perpetrator may not intend to injure, aggrieve or annoy the victim, or intend any particular outcome at all. However, they may be reckless as to the outcome of their behaviour. It is vital that we have clarity in law. The very point of this new offence is to bring clarity to the law. I ask the Minister for her assurance that scenarios such as a university friend claiming that they were helping to cheer up a friend by administering a substance without consent would be in scope of the offence as written. I would like reassurance on whether recklessness is covered within the law and why it is not explicitly written in.