News

Awareness campaign launches as World Cup kicks off

Released on 11 June 2010

"Domestic assaults rose by up to 30 per cent during the last World Cup
in England and Wales, when England was playing a match.
One in four offenders were found to be under the influence of alcohol."*

Surrey Heath's community safety partners are kicking off a domestic abuse awareness campaign to tie in with the 2010 World Cup tournament. The campaign, which is being run in partnership with Surrey Women's Aid and Surrey Heath Pubwatch, will also promote safe, sensible drinking as World Cup fever grips the nation over the next eight weeks.

The Safer Surrey Heath Partnership has produced double-sided drink mats to be used by pubs, clubs and restaurants which are members of the Surrey Heath PubWatch scheme. One side of the coaster reminds people to "Drink sensibly this summer" and "Don't get a penalty", with a picture of a referee holding up a red card. The flip side shows a whistle, with the words "Don't wait for the final whistle to call us. Ring our 24-hr domestic abuse helpline on 01483 776822". Poster versions of the coasters will be displayed in the toilets of PubWatch pubs and clubs around the borough.

Martin Lock, Chairman of Camberley Town Centre PubWatch, said: "As licensees in a busy town centre pub, we welcome this initiative to encourage our customers to take a sensible approach to drinking amid the excitement of England's World Cup campaign. We hope that the double-sided coasters will also prove useful for those customers who might need help and support if they are suffering from domestic abuse."

Borough Inspector James Norbury said: "We know that there will be an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed during the World Cup and that emotions will be running high. Therefore it is essential that our message is clear - having had too much to drink is no excuse for domestic abuse, or any type of threatening or violent behaviour. Domestic violence will not be tolerated nor drunk and disorderly behaviour in public."

Bev Pass, Director of Surrey Women's Aid added: "Domestic abuse does not only occur when someone has been drinking, and we work closely with the police and other agencies throughout the year to offer support to victims of domestic abuse."

Useful numbers

- Surrey Domestic Abuse 24-hr helpline 01483 776822
- Surrey Heath Mankind (male victims) 01276 469225
- Surrey Drug Care 24-hr helpline for alcohol and drugs support 01483 300 112

* Source: Home Office research following 2006 World Cup campaign.