As Freshers’ Week kicks off (15–21 September), Norfolk Police is stepping up its presence around pubs and clubs with Project Vigilant—a proactive operation aimed at tackling predatory behaviour which will be raising awareness around drink spiking.
Specially trained officers will be out in force across the Norwich night-time economy, using both plain-clothes and uniformed patrols to identify and intervene against inappropriate behaviour, including harassment, cat-calling, and sexual offences—often targeted at vulnerable women.
This initiative, launched on White Ribbon Day last year, marks a shift from traditional safety campaigns, placing the focus firmly on challenging perpetrators rather than placing the burden on potential victims.
Women are the main victims in a large majority of spiking offences, 74 percent, but anyone can be a victim of spiking. The average age of a victim is 26 years old, according to data from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
The data also showed 80 percent of incidents happen in public spaces, where people go to enjoy themselves. Almost half of incidents reported happened in a bar followed by nightclubs being the most common location.
Nationally the police received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023, 957 relating to needle spiking.
During Spiking Intensification Week, officers will be handing out:
- Wallet-sized advice cards to help people spot signs of spiking.
- Glow-in-the-dark wristbands with key messages like Step in. Speak up. Stay safe.
- Giving out stickers to go on mirrors and windows featuring our Stay Safe messaging to raise awareness.
- Engaging with venue staff and the public to encourage reporting of suspicious or harmful behaviour.
Chief Inspector Edward Brown said:
“We want everyone to feel safe enjoying Norwich’s nightlife. Our officers will be visible and approachable—sharing advice, handing out wristbands, and offering support. We’re here to reassure the public and call out behaviour that makes women feel unsafe. We are here to target and remove sexual predators from our City.
“The operation supports Norfolk Police’s wider commitment to reducing violence against women and girls, and aligns with national campaigns like Enough, which encourages people to be active bystanders and challenge inappropriate behaviour.”
Sergeant Gary Owen, who leads the operation, added: “Project Vigilant allows us to spot suspicious behaviour early. Our plain-clothes officers observe and pass intel to uniformed colleagues who can intervene—whether that’s offering advice, issuing a banning order, or making an arrest.”