Swansea students joined forces with Geraint Davies MP in protest outside Swansea clubs Sin City, Bamboo and Fiction against the wave of spiking in drinks and via needles that is reported from their premises.

Said Geraint Davies Labour & Cooperative MP for Swansea West “We need better scanning, searches, CCTV, testing, protection and arrest of perpetrators who spike young women with intent to rape them in Swansea.

“The police need to up game as there are reports of people debilitated after being spiked with drugs who are dismissed by the police as ‘just drunk’ when seeking help and protection. These women have been rendered highly vulnerable by misogynistic criminals who are out to rape them.

“During our march two men approached us to hurl abuse – one saying that feminists assume all men are misogynist rapists, which they of course don’t, the other saying ‘after drinking a bottle of whiskey what do women expect’. This level of misogynistic unapologetic ignorance underlines the danger on the streets from a minority of misguided men.

“Education to cure misogyny takes time and, in the meantime, I’ll be meeting with the police, heath board and local authority to help to coordinate a more immediate response to the current dangers.

“The police saying the rise in spiking is perception without evidence is woefully inadequate, in particular as we’ve had 70 cases reported to the student union in the last few weeks and I’ve taken many victim statements myself.

“Similarly the health board should not assume those presenting as having been maliciously drugged are ‘simply drunk’ and the clubs need to raise their game and put the safety of their clients, in particular women, before profits.

“If we are to make our streets safe for women complacency must be replaced by focussed action.”