According to recent data from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), there were 351 instances of domestic violence related to football registered by UK police forces during the UEFA European Championships (Euros) hosted in Germany from 14 June to 14 July.
In June of this year, a national policing strategy was introduced to assist law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending repeat domestic abusers during the Euros football competition. The UK’s Football Policing Unit developed a plan to provide law enforcement agencies with a proactive and collaborative approach to protect victims and pursue individuals who commit domestic abuse.
As part of the police operation, authorities utilised intelligence to identify a select group of individuals who were known to be serial domestic abusers who had football banning orders. These individuals were specifically targeted for operational activities, including proactive patrols and welfare visits to victims.
The plan also sought to enhance comprehension of the correlation between football competitions and increased domestic abuse. Although football itself does not directly cause domestic violence, various elements are believed to worsen abusive behaviour during football competitions. One such factor is the heightened and prolonged intake of alcohol in proximity to matches.
Data was gathered nationwide and will now undergo additional analysis to find strategies for enhancing the police’s reaction to prevent crimes, protect victims, and apprehend offenders.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, who is in charge of domestic abuse within the NPCC, and Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who leads football policing within the NPCC, stated that they have been collaborating closely with the UK Football Policing Unit to comprehend the connection between domestic abuse and football competitions. Before the Euros, we implemented a nationwide strategy to assist law enforcement agencies in adopting a proactive stance towards domestic abuse throughout the competition.
The plan also gathered data on instances of domestic abuse that victims believed were directly caused by the perpetrator’s actions related to football.
During the Euros, law enforcement agencies documented 351 instances of domestic abuse that were directly linked to football. In contrast, there were 193 instances of domestic abuse associated with football during the 2021 Euros tournament.
Gathering data in this region poses difficulties due to our dependence on victims voluntarily revealing instances of abuse, reporting any connection to football where applicable, and ensuring accurate information is recorded across all 43 law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it is essential to acknowledge that a significant number of victims choose not to report instances of abuse to law enforcement, therefore limiting our comprehensive understanding of the extent of criminal behaviour.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.