A boycott of Aberystwyth pubs, bars and nightclubs will take place this week, as part of a national campaign against the “epidemic of spiking and sexual assault incidents”.

During the next week, boycotts are taking place across UK cities as part of an anti-spiking campaign, called Girls Night In.

Poppy Mae Faiers, a third year Aberystwyth University student, has organised the Aberystwyth branch of this boycott, called Aber Night In, which will take place tomorrow night (Tuesday).

The Aberystwyth University Liberals Society, who are pushing for legislation and better protection as many people have been left “scared” by the recent increase in incidents, are also planning a protest at 9pm outside The Royal Pier.

“Since pubs and clubs have opened back up, there has been an epidemic of spiking and sexual assault incidents nationwide, Aberystwyth being no exception,” Poppy explained.

Dyfed Powys Police is urging people to be “vigilant” after receiving a “report of a suspected needle assault” in Aberystwyth, on the evening of Wednesday, 20 October.

Poppy continued: “For one night, we encourage people to be absent from bars and clubs, to make a statement that we do not feel safe, we do not feel supported, and we will no longer tolerate the lack of action being taken to resolve this issue.”

President of Aberystwyth University Student’s Union, Sabina O’Donoghue, said they “stand in solidarity” with students and those who have been spiked, and they are working on awareness raising materials to help stop spiking and provide “practical support”.

Sabina said they have also developed an anonymous reporting system for people who think they have been affected.

The Girls Night In campaign is calling for greater repercussions, greater staff training in responses, prevention, and treatment, increased searches on entrance, higher quality of CCTV at the bar, better support for victims, more obvious directions on how to get help when in clubs, stoppers and cup covers to be provided in abundance free at every bar, as well as treatment and prevention policies from government that match the severity of the issues.

A petition, calling for the UK Government to make it a legal requirement for nightclubs to thoroughly search guests on entry, has received 167,222 signatures so far.

The petition can be viewed here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598986.