The Home Secretary is asking the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review the classification of the so called date rape drugs gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)
The move by Priti Patel follows the trial of Reynard Sinaga who was given multiple life sentences for rapes and sexual assaults on 48 men in Manchester.
Police believe he used drinks laced with GHB to make his victims unconscious before he attacked them.
“I’m deeply concerned by the use of illegal drugs like GHB to perpetrate these crimes and have asked the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to expedite a review looking at whether our controls for these drugs are tough enough,” she said.
Every year in the UK, hundreds of people are thought to be victims of drink spiking, where alcohol or drugs are added to someone’s drink without them knowing.
In some cases, so-called “date rape drugs” may be used to spike a drink before a sexual assault.
