POLICE research into the drugs Rohypnol and GHB has found almost no evidence of their use in sex attacks — but many victims had been drinking, sometimes to dangerous levels.

A twelve-month study ordered by chief constables and published today shows no evidence that Rohypnol was used in the 120 cases of “date rape” examined by scientists. The research will reinforce the concerns of senior officers that the use of Rohypnol, a sleep- inducing drug which is now banned, is a myth generated by talk but not by experience.

Traces of GHB, once taken as a steroid alternative for body-building, were found in only two cases. But the report calls for more research on GHB, concluding that “in respect of GHB there is some empirical data to support its limited use but its early identification is often compromised by delayed reporting and the rapid metabolism of this drug”.

In 119 of the 120 cases examined for the report the victims had reportedly been drinking and in 63 cases scientists found only traces of drink. In 22 of the 120 victims the blood alcohol levels at the time of the attack were estimated to be two to three times the drink-drive limit.

In 57 cases, controlled or prescribed drugs were found. Cocaine and cannabis were the most commonly detected narcotics.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Gee, co-author of the research and vice-chairman of a national police working party on rape, said: “This study is the first of its kind in the Police Service and demonstrates the difficulties faced when investigating offences of this type.”

He said the work will help to investigate cases and serve as a warning to the public about the risks they could face.

The cases were taken from seven forces, including the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, part of the West Midlands force, Northumbria and the constabularies of Derbyshire and Lancashire.

The cases covered victims who reported to the police that they believed they had experienced or suspected a drug- assisted rape within the previous 72 hours.

They included ten where the victim denied taking drugs which included GHB, cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazepines and MDMA, the active ingredient in Ecstasy.

In another eleven cases, covert administration of drugs could not be ruled out and this included drugs such as cocaine, the drug that is branded Nightnurse, and an analgesic.

The report calls for all forces to use the methods in Operation Matisse, the name of the study, in dealing with drug rape allegations and for all cases to be separately reported so that a national picture can be made.

Police also want the Home Office to begin a publicity campaign to raise awareness and get the public to take precautions.

A spokesman for the Roofie Foundation, which has been campaigning for recognition of the problems, welcomed the report’s recommendations but questioned the science because drugs can rapidly disappear from the systems of victims.

He said that the foundation receives about 800 calls a year from victims but the numbers claiming sex attacks has stabilised in the last few years.

At the same time the number of attacks aimed at spiking the drinks of victims so that they can be robbed of money or identification is rising.

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