Eastenders actress Molly Rainford has said it is “important” for the show to address the issue of spiking in a new experimental storyline. The new five-part miniseries, called Spiked, follows Rainford’s character Anna Knight after her drink is spiked during a night out. The miniseries was uploaded to social media by the show’s creators and is accessible via a QR code shown during the regular Eastenders episode on BBC One. Viewers who scan the code with their phones are taken to the miniseries and links to resources about spiking.
Spiking is the act of putting alcohol or drugs into someone’s drink or body without their knowledge or consent. According to police, most spiking cases happen in public places such as bars and nightclubs. Although it is already illegal, the UK government is set to introduce a new bill that will make spiking a specific criminal offense.
Rainford says that she is constantly worried about the risk of spiking on nights out and that “it’s a real shame” that people have to live in fear of it happening. The aim of the miniseries is to create more awareness of the issue and reach a younger audience online.
Abbi Taylor, who has experienced spiking, says it was “just the worst thing” she has ever experienced. She lost the ability to move her body and couldn’t talk. After her experience, she no longer wants to go out at night and urges people to be alert to the signs.
Dawn Dines, CEO of the charity Stamp Out Spiking, which consulted on the Eastenders miniseries, says “education is key to preventing these incidents.” She hopes that featuring the issue on the show will inspire conversations that help to protect people
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More