Recommendation - College of Policing, February 2025

The IOPC recommends that the College of Policing creates guidance for officers to assist them in understanding the topic of chemsex, and in recognising the signs that an incident may include a chemsex element. Any guidance created should include: 

• A working definition of chemsex to increase officers’ awareness.
• Guidance about the key indicators officers should look out for when attending an incident which may indicate the involvement of chemsex.
• Guidance on recognising the increased vulnerability that a person, or community, may face as a result of involvement in the chemsex scene. This should include information on the potential barriers to reporting which may impact people who are engaging in chemsex.
• Guidance on the possible effects of drugs which are predominantly used within chemsex, including information on possible links and reactions with alcohol or other drugs. This should include specific guidance on the handling of deaths where it is suspected that these drugs have been involved.

This follows an IOPC review of a complaint following local investigation in which the complainant had concerns over the handling of the investigations into her son’s death. 

The post-mortem showed an overdose with the presence of GHB and crystal meth, alongside other drugs, at potentially toxic levels. Following the death, information came to light that suggested the ex-partner of the deceased, who was present when he died, may have been involved in supplying these drugs, and in sexual offences, as part of the chemsex scene. 

The police investigation was subject to an internal Serious Crime Review which identified that the scene contained many indicators of a chemsex scene, which were not taken into consideration when categorising or investigating the death. Officers were informed of the presence of GHB and crystal meth at the scene. 

There was a failure to perform a thorough search and as such, potential evidence was not seized including the crystal meth they had been informed of. Additionally, the Serious Crime Review identified 19 missed or incomplete lines of enquiry in the investigation of the death. 

It was recognized that no training was provided either locally or nationally to officers on being able to identify incidents linked to chemsex activity. It is hoped that provision of guidance on these matters will raise awareness and mean chemsex is part of the considerations in future investigations and included in lines of enquiry where appropriate.

Accepted

The College will provide a link at Policing drugs | College of Policing with cross references in other relevant areas of APP, for example Homicide, to additional content which addresses the issues raised in this reg 28 request.

This will reference a recent article written on this subject by senior investigators involved in investigating chemsex as part of the investigation into the deaths of a number of young men.