UK Home Secretary Apologizes for 'Ironic' Drink Spiking Joke Amid Plans to Crack Down on Crime
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Home Secretary James Cleverly apologized for making an "ironic joke" about putting Rohypnol in his wife's drink at a Downing Street reception.
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The comments were made within hours of the Home Office announcing plans to crack down on drink spiking.
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Cleverly was criticized by Labour figures for the "appalling" remarks, with the shadow home secretary questioning if victims can "trust him to take this vile crime seriously."
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There were 6,732 reports of spiking in England and Wales over the past year, with police receiving 561 reports a month on average.
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Ministers pledged to modernize legislation to make clear spiking is a crime, but stopped short of creating a specific criminal offense for it.