People across Swindon are boycotting nightclubs and bars tomorrow as part of the national Night In movement to highlight the issue of drink spiking and spiking by injection.

Campaigners are urging clubs and bars to increase entry security, to supply drink protection devices and to provide a medical centre as well as a safe way of getting home.

Tabby, 19, witnessed an attempted drink spike in a town nightclub at the beginning of October.

It was the first night she’d been out in months due to a health condition.

She was so disturbed by what she saw that, when her sister told her about the campaign, she decided to organise Swindon Night In.

She said: “I’ve always been very aware of spiking and the dangers of nightlife.

“Luckily, the girl was very aware and noticed that someone had spiked her drink but it really shocked me to see if happening.

“I don’t go out that much but I saw it happen on the first night out and that made me realise how often it is happening

“I was shocked to see it first-hand but my best friend and my cousin have been spiked so it’s not that unusual.

“It means a lot to me to prevent people from being spiked.”

Tabby’s mum Rebecca said: “When Tabby told me she had witnessed someone attempting to spike a girl’s drink during a night out here in Swindon, I felt angry, sad and concerned, but even worse maybe was that this didn’t shock or surprise me in the slightest.

“I had already heard first-hand about many spiking incidents in the town.

“Before going out that evening,Tabby came down wearing a dress and trainers.

“I expressed surprise at her choice of trainers and she explained that this was a lot safer than wearing heels out because it meant she could get away quicker if she encountered any kind of problem.

“I warned her to keep a close eye on her drink before she went out. This conversation left me questioning how things have got so much worse for her generation than mine.

I am proud that Tabby has decided to highlight this issue here in Swindon.”

The national campaign involves boycotting nightclubs, but this has been extended in Swindon to bars too.

Tabby added: “It’s just as common in bars as in nightclubs.”

People are encouraged to have a ‘night in’ with organisers suggesting pumpkin carving, or film and karaoke nights as alternative options.

Rockstar Bingo will provide free Spotify bingo for anyone looking for entertainment. The promo code is available by messaging the Swindon Night In page.

Rebecca added: “This is not about blaming nightclubs. The only ones to blame are those who spike the drinks of others, this is an appalling and despicable act.

“Nightclubs have a huge role to play and a responsibility to do all they can to keep people safe whilst on their premises.

“Better preventative measures need to be put in place to tackle the increasing rates.

“We can all agree, no matter what role we play in the local community here in Swindon, including parents, nightclub or bar owners, police officers and those on the front line at GWH, where often victims of spiking are treated, more must be done to prevent this from happening.”

Figures show 12 incidents of drink spiking in Wiltshire have been reported this year.

Tabby suggested, however, that many affected don’t report the crime due to embarrassment and a culture of victim-blaming.

The campaign is thought to have started with Edinburgh student Martha Williams. Exeter held the first boycott on Monday while Durham Liverpool and Leicester’s campaigns took place on Tuesday.

According to Global Citizen, spiking has increased by 108 per cent in three years.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed that there had been 198 drink spiking incidents reported in the last two months and 24 incidents of injection across the UK.

What initially started in student cities, has spread to locations all over the UK.

Formerly ‘Girls Night In’, the ‘Night In’ initiative has three demands: prevention, welfare and support.

Campaigners want nightclub staff to be required to undertake Active Bystander training at least twice a year and that this training should include how to respond to incidents of spiking and sexual violence.

They are asking clubs to communicate a zero-tolerance policy on spiking and to have a clear procedure on how they will support victims and how they will handle reports of spiking and harassment.

For welfare, campaigners think nightclubs should have at least one designated welfare officer who can provide a safe way home and intervene in harassment cases.

They also want nightclubs to provide drink covers, test strips and anti-spiking devices upon request.

To get involved with the boycott on October 29, search Swindonnightin on Facebook.

Wiltshire Police said that anyone who believes they have been the victim of spiking or have witnessed spiking should call 101. Any reports of spiking will be investigated and taken seriously.