Police have launched a crackdown on vape-spiking in bars, clubs and party boats after children as young as 14 were rushed to hospital.

New detection equipment will be used across London allowing for the rapid testing of devices suspected to contain drugs like THC or spice.

Met officers have expressed growing concern over reports of vapes being tampered with and shared or handed out in social settings.

In south east London last year five pupils from a school in Eltham fell sick with symptoms including vomiting and confusion after using a spice laced vape.

Emergency services attended the scene and one of the children was put in an induced coma - but was later revived and recovered.

In July this year the 'zombie drug' spice was also found across secondary schools in Wiltshire prompting police to issue a stark warning to parents.

A shocking study last year found one in six vapes confiscated from school children in England was laced with the substance.

Police are using a range of mobile drug-testing equipment which assist rapid drug identification - including near infra-red detectors that can test powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs, supported by a mobile phone app.

A near infra-red detector (right) that can test a range of powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs is pictured along with a new vape spiking detector (left)

Police are using a range of mobile drug-testing equipment which assist rapid drug identification

Police raid party boats over fears of 'vape spiking' during Fresher's week to prevent offending taking place

The Met's Marine Support Unit was joined by Home Office minister Jess Phillips yesterday as they led an operation patrolling party boats embarking and disembarking at Westminster Pier to identify and prevent offending taking place on the river.

Licensing teams, drug dogs, safer transport, and a central Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team were among the resources deployed, with a focus on party boats along the Thames - popular with students during Freshers Week

Officers conducted safety checks, engaged with party-goers, and used the vape-spiking detection equipment.

Police received more than 2,000 allegations of spiking between March 2024 and March 2025, though the force believes the true scale of the crime to be higher due to under-reporting.

Spiking disproportionately affects women and girls, with 66 per cent of victims in August 2025 being female. Offenders are most active in and around busy nightlife venues, with 17 per cent of reports linked to Westminster and the West End.

Recent efforts follow Spiking Intensification Week, a national initiative led by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and Home Office.

Mr Russell said: 'Spiking is an abhorrent crime that we are tackling head on, whether it takes place in a nightclub, a private venue, or on the Thames. The ongoing trial of new vape-spiking detection kits is just one example of how we are innovating to get ahead of offenders and better protect the public.

'This is part of our wider commitment under the VAWG strategy to protect women and girls across London. We are working with partners in licensing, education and the night-time economy to disrupt offenders, raise awareness and, crucially, support victims.

There was an increase of contaminated vapes, which are commonly sold on on social media platforms such as Snapchat, found at secondary schools in Wiltshire (file image)

Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid that can cause a range of serious side effects, including cardiac arrest

Read More Children taken to hospital after using 'contaminated' vapes laced with 'zombie drug' Spice

'If you think you've been spiked, please come forward - being spiked is never your fault, it's always the fault of the perpetrator. The sooner we know, the more we can do to support you, collect evidence and stop dangerous offenders from targeting others.'

He added the force had been asked to come to schools to test vapes for drugs: 'We saw an appalling case in south-east London with a number of children as young as 14 years old hospitalised because cannabis products were placed into their vapes.'

Ms Phillips said: 'As students across the country enjoy Freshers Week, we are determined to tackle the vile crime of spiking.

'That's why we are funding a national Spiking Intensification Week to raise awareness, support police forces to use innovative tactics, and encourage victims to report this crime.

'We are also working with bars, pubs and clubs to roll out specialist training for staff and introducing a new criminal offence for spiking to bring more perpetrators to justice.'

Ms Phillips added that the Spiking Intensification Week cost the Home Office £100,000 nationally and is 'to fund, really specifically, the intensification and the assessment of what schemes work'.

Former Love Island contestant Sharon Gaffka joined the Met officers and Ms Phillips on the operation, and told how she has been campaigning for legislative change after her drink was spiked five years ago.

Some vapes that were tested for Spice, along with a testing machine from the University of Bath are pictured

She said she was having lunch in London with friends when she became unwell and walked to the toilets where she lost consciousness.

Ms Gaffka said she wasglad to see the new testing being used by police, adding: 'I got to witness in the briefing room earlier how we're now updating testing, because spiking has moved along, like I was drink-spiked, but I'm meeting people that are being spiked with needles, being spiked with vapes.

'If we're not doing anything, it's going to keep moving faster to the point where we can't keep up with it. So that's the kind of changes I was really glad to see today.'

Met launches crackdown on vape-spiking as they target bars and clubs