!

The University is closed from Friday 20 December and reopens on Friday 3 January. Please be aware that Report and Support will not be monitored over this period. We will respond to reports on Monday 6th January.

University Security is available over the holiday period and can be contacted on the SafeZone app or by calling 0131 455 6119. However, in an emergency please call 999 or contact Police Scotland on 101.

There is support available to you over the holiday period - please review the support articles below or see here for mental health support available over Christmas and New Year period.

If you have been spiked its important to remember what has happened is not your fault and you're not alone. Your safety and wellbeing are the most important things right now and you can access specialist support, if and whenever you feel ready.

What to do if you think you've been spiked

  • If you start to feel strange, sick or drunk when you know that you couldn’t be drunk, get help from a trusted friend or the venue management.
  • If you think you may have been spiked, ask a close friend to get you out of the venue or party as soon as possible and either take you home or to hospital (if seriously unwell). You could also ring a friend, relative or partner and ask them to come and pick you up.
  • If you feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened you can ask for help by approaching venue staff and asking for ‘Angela’. This is a coded-phrase that indicates you need help and a trained member of staff will support and assist you. You can also ask for 'Angela' if you are in any situation where you feel threatened or at risk. 
  • Once you are safely home ask someone to stay with you until the effects of the drug have worn off - this might take several hours.
  • Don’t hesitate to call for medical help if you need it - it's always better to get checked out.
  • If you feel able and comfortable to, make a report to the police as soon as possible. Some substances used for spiking can’t be detected after 72 hours or even 12 hours, so doing this as early as possible can help the police find out what has happened.  

 University Support

  • Speak to adviser. An adviser will get in touch to discuss your options with you and will be able to offer appropriate practical and emotional support tailored to your circumstances.  This is confidential and does not instigate any kind of formal reporting process. 
  • Counselling and Mental Wellbeing Service. The Counselling and Mental Wellbeing Service offers confidential support to students.
  • MCL Medics. MCL Medics can offer support to staff. This service for staff offers a free, confidential and independent resource to help employees balance their work, family and personal lives.  This  service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by phone, e-mail or online and provides information, resources and counselling
  • For more information visit https://safer.scot/spiking/ 

Reporting Options

  • Police. In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger you should dial 999.  Otherwise, you can call 101 or visit your local police station to report a crime.  Reporting is a big decision and all of the support services linked to above can support you with this, if you decide to make a police report. 
  • University. If the perpetrator is a member of the University community you will have the option of submitting a formal report. The first step to making a formal report is to speak with an adviser,  who will be able to provide you with advice and support on what options are available to make an informed decision. 
Back

There are two ways you can tell us what happened

Report anonymously or Report to an Adviser