A study from Lancaster University, which analysed police data from major tournaments in 2002, 2006 and 2010 showed that domestic abuse incidents rose by 38% when England played and lost, 26% when England won or drew, and were 11% higher the following day than on days with no England match.
‘It has been picked up on and it’s something that we’re alive to and obviously [tackling] violence against women and girls in domestic incidents is vitally important for us and we want to manage those incidents appropriately,’ said chief inspector Adam Parry-Jones, head of uniform operations at Guernsey Police.
‘There is evidence that domestic abuse cases increased during major football tournaments and matches by around 25-50%, depending on which study.
‘Whether you’re at the lower end or the higher end of that, it’s what I would consider quite a significant increase, which justifies certainly the approach of reaching out to the community to make sure that they’re aware that the support is there if they need it and we’re more than happy to assist with that.’
Safer – a charity that offers support to those affected by domestic abuse – has said that locally it has not seen an increase in referrals correlating to large sporting events such as the World Cup, but that does not mean it is not happening.
‘I am aware that the national picture can differ, and while I cannot yet comment on whether anything may change locally during the Fifa World Cup, our experience so far is that we have not seen a specific increase in referrals linked to such events,’ said Safer CEO Naomi Wright.
‘It is also important to recognise that a lack of increased referrals does not necessarily mean domestic abuse is not occurring; rather, it may not be being reported. Some victims and survivors may experience heightened anxiety, fear, or unpredictability during periods like this.
‘We strongly encourage anyone feeling this way to reach out to us, a trusted friend or family member, or the police – particularly if they feel in immediate danger.
‘The responsibility for abuse lies solely with the person perpetrating it.
‘Any incident of domestic abuse is unacceptable, whether linked to major events or not. We would like to reach out to anyone experiencing any form of domestic abuse to reassure them that they are not alone, they are not to blame, and that support is available.
‘Individuals can contact us on 01481 721999 or via our website.’
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