“Harassing women on a night out has to stop”. That is the key message from bars and nightclubs in Lincoln as they seek to put a halt to drink spiking in the city, amid rumours of a venue boycott next week.
Recent reports of drink spiking have prompted a social media campaign for women to boycott the nightlife industry on Wednesday, October 27 to raise awareness and ask for change.
Girls Night In Lincoln is a local Instagram account that has joined in with nationwide calls for the boycott, sharing stories from anonymous people who believe they were spiked or sexually assaulted when on nights out in the city.
It comes as Lincolnshire Police confirmed it would be investigating reports of drink spiking in Lincoln city centre, after three women were reported to have been unwell after having a drink in a bar on Friday, October 8.
Police said on Thursday, October 21 that four cases of drink spiking in the Lincoln area had been reported so far this month, none of which involved injection via a needle.
The Lincolnite has reached out to major nightlife venues across the city to find out what measures are in place should people feel unsafe or at risk of being spiked. Here is what they had to say:
Home, Bierkeller, Craft & Carousel
Home nightclub in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Home nightclub has utilised a number of anti-drink spiking procedures for some time now, and wanted to reassure customers that there are plenty of things you can do if you suspect something has happened on a night out.
David Nejrup, operations manager at Home and sister businesses Carousel, Craft, Bierkeller, The Curiosity Shop and Void, has said systems have been reviewed following various reports of drink spiking.
Carousel on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
He told The Lincolnite: “In our venues, our guests’ safety and wellbeing is paramount, it’s our number one priority. With recent reports on social media and on the news, locally and nationally of drinks being allegedly spiked we have pro-actively reviewed and enhanced our systems and procedures regarding guest safety and welfare.
“We have, for some time had the ability to test drinks instantly for any substances, if a guest is concerned or suspects a drink has been tampered with. We have various devices available on request at each of our bars that enable individuals to cover the tops of drinks.
“These include foil top stickers that cover the top of the whole drink and allow for a straw to be pierced through. We also have an equipped first aid and welfare room.”
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As well as this, a fully qualified medic is on site at all times, increased signage and social media campaigns have been introduced to spread awareness of safety, and search procedures have been enhanced.
Mr Nejrup continued: “Our wider bar teams are also trained and well versed in removing any unattended drinks, looking out for any suspicious activity in our venue and in welfare campaigns such as Ask For Angela.”
Ask for Angela is a campaign that was started by Lincolnshire County Council in 2016, encouraging anyone who felt unsafe or vulnerable at a venue to use a codeword which would alert members of staff.
It began in Lincolnshire and was eventually rolled out across the country, most recently becoming endorsed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police in light of the tragic death of Sarah Everard.
The Strait and Narrow
The Strait and Narrow. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Strait and Narrow in Lincoln was actually the first bar in the world to adopt the Ask for Angela scheme, and prides itself on keeping incidents of this kind to a minimum.
Owner Jez Nash has said it is a venue’s responsibility to keep customers safe and that “collectively we have to work our hardest to make sure this is the case.”
He said: “When people go out to a bar or a club they want to relax and have a good time, our responsibility goes beyond just serving them drinks. At The Strait and Narrow we always have a member of management on shift to make sure we know what’s going on in the venue, to make sure everyone’s behaviour is acceptable and that everyone is safe.”
Jez has also stated two solutions that should be brought in across the country to stop these incidents at source.
He continued: “Firstly in the short term, it needs to be stopped from happening and the people attempting to do this need to be caught and passed onto the authorities. We can do this by using the Drink Aware Kits to gather evidence, along with CCTV to make sure that the people responsible are caught and prosecuted and that the potential victims of their behavior are safe.
“Secondly in the long term, we need to educate people that certain types of behaviour isn’t acceptable. I doubt that the people who are attempting to spike drinks have just started doing this. I think it’s likely to be a way down the road from behaviour that started out as being minorly unpleasant and has become more extreme over time.
“That’s why we need to stop enabling the early signs of this. Harassing women on a night out for your own amusement has to stop. If you’re doing it – stop it, if you can’t stop seek help. If your friends are doing it tell them they shouldn’t. ”
Walkabout
| Photo: The Lincolnite
Walkabout has also been utilising the Ask for Angela scheme, as well as drink protectors, and they have guest support workers who wear neon armbands to help customers with any concerns they may have.
A spokesperson for Walkabout Lincoln said: “The safety of our guests and our team, has always been, and remains, our number one priority and we continually review our safety and security procedures to ensure our customers and staff remain safe.
“Following the concern over alleged increases in spiking in clubs and bars, we have enhanced our measures to include offering promoting ‘Ask For Angela’, offering drink protectors including Spikeys and Scrunchies, and we also have guest support colleagues available to support any guests that are feeling vulnerable or unwell.
“These team members are easily identifiable, as they wear a neon armband. We have enhanced security checks on our door, and we ask guests remain vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious behaviour to one of our team immediately.”
Trebles
Trebles Nightclub in Lincoln. | Photo: Daniel Jaines
Ian Hughes, general manager at Trebles, said: “The spiking situation is a concern for everyone involved. However, as a venue, we are working hard to tackle it.
“We are an ‘Ask for Angela’ bar and have been for several years. We also hold drink testing strips, again, something we’ve had for several years. If you are concerned about your drink, we can test it.
“The foil toppers is something we’re looking into as a venue as well as Spikeys (a cap put in bottles to prevent spiking) for bottles.
“If any customer feels unwell, uncomfortable or concerned, please make yourself known to staff, management or doorstaff and we’ll do our upmost to support you.”
University of Lincoln Students’ Union
Lincoln Engine Shed, which is managed by the University of Lincoln Students’ Union. | Photo: Daniel Ionescu for The Lincolnite
The students’ union, which runs Towers, The Swan and The Engine Shed, issued a statement saying it was “committed to prioritising the safety of students” in its venues.
Multiple procedures have been put in place to combat the recent spate of drink spiking, such as offering Spikeys and Nightcaps for any drink ordered from the bar, and delivering a “comprehensive” staff training programme with a focus on venue safety, and searching “as many people as logistically possible”.
The students’ union will also work closely with Lincolnshire Police to aid the reporting of illegal activity. This included authorising drug swabs at the Quack! night during freshers’ week, with names of anyone who failed these passed directly to both the police and the university.
A spokesperson for the SU said: “It is vital that victims of suspected drink spiking within the Engine Shed or any SU venue, report this to security in the first instance, or any member of staff at the event so that we can most effectively deal with it. Prompt reporting is critical to us and the police, in order to effectively gather evidence.”
Ask for Angela is now a global scheme that was originally set up by Lincolnshire County Council. It encourages people to discreetly ask for help by going to the bar and saying ‘Ask for Angela’.
The Lincolnite has also contacted Fever & Boutique and Sugarcubes for statements, but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The famous illuminated wall walk along Lincoln Castle has returned for the festive season, alongside the city’s famous Christmas Market celebrations.
The event gets underway on Thursday, December 2 and runs until Sunday, December 5, in line with the annual market.
It will see the walls of Lincoln Castle lit up at your feet as you walk along and see the spectacular views of the city.
Illuminated is back at Lincoln Castle! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Bringing the castle walls to life during those winter nights. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tickets have sold out for the walk during Christmas Market weekend, but a second batch will be released for the next illuminated dates later this month.
After the market is finished, the castle will close for just over a week to clear up, replacing stalls with Christmas trees and festive lights, ahead of a return for the wall walk from Saturday, December 11.
The wall walk offers up gorgeous views of the city. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
You’ll be able to watch over Lincoln Christmas Market. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
This will run each day until December 23, with mulled wine and hot chocolate available, and even dog friendly evenings on December 15 and 22.
Tickets, which can be bought from Lincoln Castle’s website, cost £2 for entry to the grounds, but it will be £10 for adults to do the illuminated walk, £5.50 for children and £25.50 for a family ticket. Under 5s go free.
Have you got your tickets yet? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite did a preview walk-round of the illuminated wall walk on Wednesday, December 1, which was live-streamed on our Facebook page. Watch it here:
Councillors have called for improved bus services and biodiversity as they approved plans to build accommodation for nearly 300 students near Yarborough Leisure Centre.
They include plans for four two/three storey buildings and five three/four storey buildings, along with reception, laundry facilities and warden accommodation. Just 17 parking spaces will be provided for unloading and staff parking only.
City of Lincoln Council planning meeting on Wednesday. | Photo: Daniel Jaines
The university’s plans included a number of changes to a previously-rejected application, for 295 bedspaces with teaching facilities and an on-site café, including reduced footprint and scale, increased distance from Riseholme Road, the loss of a teaching space, a reduction of parking spaces down from 40 and plans to keep trees to the front of the site.
Council officers recommended approval and said the previous barriers has been overcome. They said the development “integrates well into the character of the area”.
Councillor Gary Hewson said: “Clearly there are a lot of students that commute into the university and if they had a better bus service, that’s surely got to be better for students and for the local people as well.
“This may be good that the local residents mix with students because that’s the way people tend to get on.”
Councillor Rebecca Longbottom said more biodiversity should be called for to meet the council’s desires to combat climate change.
Some councillors were still concerned about the scale of the development but accepted the university had improved on its proposals and met the criteria it was rejected on last time.
The public gallery at Wednesday’s City of Lincoln Council planning meeting. | Photo: Daniel Jaines
Scott Fleming, Deputy Vice Chancellor of BGU told councillors: “We take our responsibilities to our near neighbours very seriously.
“This has been a long process and it is all the better for it.
“The outcome is a significantly different and much improved application.”
He looked to reassure residents that parking would increase on nearby streets and said previous issues had been caused “overwhelmingly” by commuting students. He said residential accommodation closer to the campus would reduce the need for parking.
“We are confident this will not add to roadside parking in the neighbourhood,” he said.
How the site will be laid out. | Image: BGU
More than 30 residents had objected to the plans with concerns over the density and height of the buildings and an increase in traffic.
They feared a ban on parking would see students park on nearby streets.
Objector John Noone said: “The height of the hotel-like accommodation that’s proposed is not in keeping with the area and will permanently damage it.
“The rooflines of the four storey blocks will dominate the skyline for generations.”
He said BGU already had land it could build on elsewhere and told councillors there would be a surplus in student accommodation in the future.
He said it would “destroy one of the few remaining publicly open green spaces” in the city.
The Lincoln Civic Trust said that although it was a “far better plan than the previous application” it still had concerns.
NHS England requested a sum of £80,575 towards new facilities at the Lindum and Minister Medical Practices to tackle additional demands on GP services.
A 28 year old man from Donington has been charged with attempted rape, robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a 22 year old woman was attacked on Albion Street, Spalding on the evening of Saturday 27 November 2021.
Kamil Gziut of Arnhem Way, Donington, has been remanded into custody and will appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 2 December 2021.
Detective Inspector Paul Coleman, who has been leading the investigation said: “The full circumstances of this case were initially unclear but it soon became apparent that this was a random attack on a stranger, which, had it not been for the quick wits of the victim, and the intervention of others could have become something more sinister.
“I want to commend the bravery of the victim in this case. We are continuing to engage and support her as this investigation moves forward.
“I also particularly want to thank and commend the bravery of the three young men that came to the aid of this woman. Their actions on the night and their subsequent co-operation with our investigation has played a huge part in this investigation and we are all grateful for their help.
“We have been working tirelessly in our efforts to piece together evidence, officers worked through the night to ensure that CPS were in a position to authorise the appropriate charges.
“I hope that this reassures the community that we are absolutely committed to their safety and bringing offenders to justice who would seek to harm others.
“I can confirm that this was a completely isolated incident and we are not looking for anybody else at this time.’
We continue to appeal for any information that will assist the investigation and ask anyone who thinks they can help to get in touch. There are a number of ways to contact us:
By clicking on the email link [email protected] please remember to put the reference incident 351 of 27 November in the subject box.
Via our non-emergency number 101, quoting incident 27 November
Through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
If you’ve been the victim of crime, support is available, whether you have reported the crime to the police or not. Victim Lincs provide free, confidential advice and guidance, as well as access to specialist emotional support services. Visit victimlincs.co.uk or call 01522 947510 Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm.
Update 14:00 1st December
We have this morning arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the assault on Albion Street, Spalding. The incident took place on Saturday 27 November.
He remains in police custody and enquiries are still ongoing.
Original release
We are appealing for witnesses after a woman was assaulted on Albion Street Spalding on Saturday 27 November between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
Our force control room received a report that a woman in her 20s was assaulted by a man who grabbed her around the neck and forced her to the ground.
We believe the male suspect may have followed the victim over the footbridge from the High Street and onto Albion Street where the incident happened.
Reports suggest that three men came to the rescue of the woman and confronted the man before he left the scene. There are also reports that a passing motorist may have stopped briefly and spoken with these three men.
We are currently pursuing a number of enquiries into this incident but we are particularly keen to identify and speak with these men who appear to have intervened and helped the victim. It is likely that they have had close contact with the suspect and may have information that will help to identify him. We would also like to hear from anybody who was in the area of Albion Street or High Street between the hours of 5.30 and 6.30pm on Saturday evening that may be able to assist with this enquiry.
Anybody with any information including dashcam footage, please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting Inc 351 – 27/11/21.
Whatsapp
