Special devices to prevent drinks being spiked are being handed out in Bradford city centre as part of four weeks of action.

Bradford Council, Street Angels and West Yorkshire Police are working together to raise awareness of drink spiking as part of Operation Northdale in a bid to reduce sexual offences.

It is a preventative operation as there is no evidence to suggest drink spiking or sexual assaults are worse in Bradford than any other major city in the country.

The devices were bought by the Council and are being handed out on Friday and Saturday nights. They can be pushed into the top of a bottle and lock onto a straw, making it more difficult for drugs to be slipped into the drink.

Councillor Imran Hussain, the Council’s executive member for community safety, and deputy leader of the authority, joined Street Angels volunteers and police officers to witness the anti-spiking gadgets being handed out.

He said: “Prevention is far better than cure. We want to ensure people are aware of drink spiking and the potential pitfalls of having too much to drink.

“By working together we can continue to drive down crime.”

John Dinsdale, chairman of Bradford Street Angels, said: “We are urging people to keep an eye on their drinks and not overdo it.

“To help stay safe people can add the contact telephone number of a reputable taxi firm to their phones and agree to watch out for each other before leaving for a night out.”

Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, chairman of Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership, said: “The partnership working in Bradford is first class, I have seen evidence of the effective way in which the voluntary sector has helped to reduce the terrible harm that rape can inflict on vulnerable victims.

“These are extremely seriously crimes and West Yorkshire Police will do everything in our powers to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”