A SOUTHAMPTON spiking victim is calling for an end to "lad culture" and more "emphasis on the perpetrators" as 'hotspot' venues are told to improve.

Emily Seymour-Dale, 20, is a student at the University of Southampton. 

What was meant to be a fun night out with her friends soon turned into a nightmare when she was spiked at a ticketed event only open to students. 

The group was required to show tickets and were given a coupon for a free drink coupon for a pre-poured, unattended glasses of Pinot Grigio.

READ MORE: 'I can't trust anyone': Southampton student tells of horror spiking incident at ticketed uni event

After just one drink, Emily was found in the toilets unconscious, injured and unable to move just before 10pm. 

She was rushed to hospital and by 7am, Emily was sent home.

No tests were done at the hospital to determine what was in her system.

Last week, MPs said that bars and clubs with a bad track record on spiking should be required to improve if they are to have their licences renewed.

READ MORE: Extra security guards brought in to patrol Southampton after dark

A report from the Home Affairs Committee said that not enough is being done to support spiking victims.

It said it is difficult to know the true scale because a culture of victim-blaming and a lack of coordinated support has meant many incidents are going unreported.

But creating a new criminal offence for spiking, which the Government is considering, would make victims more likely to come forward and signal to perpetrators that such behaviour will be punished.

Emily has said she is backing the law change as she feels that it will give venues more "incentive" to enforce spiking awareness and protection. 

READ MORE: Police quash 'fake news' rumours surrounding needle spiking incidents in Southampton

She said: "While this is important, I think it also must be said that the “culture” of reporting spiking stems from the issue that all of the onus is on the victims to act.

"Most measures are defensive, we have to be “more careful”, we have to cover our drinks.

"It leads to a culture similar to that of saying women should dress modestly to avoid sexual assault. Of course, it’s important to keep women safe, but when it comes to drink spiking, we must put emphasis on the perpetrators; that women will be believed, that we will have systems and campaigns in place to do everything in our power to catch these criminals."

READ MORE: Southampton nightclubs ramp up security in bid to stop spiking

But she feels that there should be better measures for reporting spiking such as a system of victim reporting and channels for which anyone can anonymously report someone they know who has admitted to this crime.

She thinks this will "help deter the lad culture around joking about these issues and finding it funny to take a woman’s control away". 

She also believes that there should also be policies in place to test victims immediately in hospitals.

"My case was severe enough to warrant a hospital visit," she explained. 

"And it was hard enough for me to report, so I can only imagine the self blame and doubt other victims would go through that would deter them from reporting. 

"I believe a shift in focus from victims to perpetrators is what will eventually reduce the rates of spiking."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News