Police support Football United Against Domestic Violence

National Police Lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said:

“There is never an excuse for domestic abuse of any kind. There is a potential for an increase in domestic abuse during match days so police forces are running campaigns with local support services to prevent abuse and officers will take action to keep victims safe.

“Football United Against Domestic Abuse brings people together to stand against domestic abuse – an important message that people need to understand for us to reduce the number of people suffering and dying at the hands of someone close to them in our society.”

For the full press release see below:

Women’s Aid teams up with football to give domestic violence the red card

Women’s Aid, supported by the Premier League and BT Sport today held a Parliamentary event[Tuesday 10 June] to launch Football United Against Domestic Violence, a campaign working with football clubs, organisations, players and fans to help raise awareness of domestic violence and the sexist attitudes that underpin abuse against women. The launch was attended by a number of MPs, celebrities and people working in the footballing community, including Former England goalkeeper and BT Sport Presenter David James, singer Jahméne Douglas, and television presenter Charlie Webster.

As the Football World Cup 2014 kicks off in Brazil, Women’s Aid is using the worldwide focus on football to launch the campaign, to enable the football community to speak out publicly against domestic violence in society, making football a place where perpetrators of domestic abuse are not welcome.

About the campaign

Women’s Aid is working with national footballing bodies, leading sports media outlets, football clubs, players and fans to make violence against women always unacceptable.

Women’s Aid is asking football clubs to get involved by signing the Football United Club Pledge:

• To send a clear message in their club that violence against women and children is completely unacceptable.
• To break the silence that allows domestic violence to continue - to actively talk about it and raise awareness of the support available to those directly affected.
• To provide positive role models to younger people in the community, encouraging healthy and non-abusive relationships.
• To share news of our work with Football United Against Domestic Violence

Individuals can also make a pledge to get involved by encouraging their club to sign up in support of the campaign.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid said:

“Two women a week are killed by partners or ex-partners, and there’s evidence that reports of domestic violence rise following World Cup games. Most people are opposed to domestic violence, but it is often not talked about in public. We are creating this opportunity for the footballing community to join with us to make a positive difference now to raise awareness and reduce domestic violence in the future.”

David James said:

“All forms of domestic violence are completely unacceptable, and it is shocking to think that there is a rise in reporting following England games. I wholeheartedly support the Football United Against Domestic Violence campaign, and hope that clubs get involved and work with Women’s Aid to help raise awareness with their supporters.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said:

“Putting an end to violent, threatening and coercive behaviour against women and girls is one of my key priorities – and I fully back this important work by Women’s Aid.

“Domestic abuse is not only tragic, it is illegal – and I am determined to do everything in my power to see an end to it.

“I have launched a new campaign this week to highlight the consequences of abuse to young men and urge them to seek support to change their behaviour.”

National Police Lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said:

“There is never an excuse for domestic abuse of any kind. There is a potential for an increase in domestic abuse during match days so police forces are running campaigns with local support services to prevent abuse and officers will take action to keep victims safe.

“Football United Against Domestic Abuse brings people together to stand against domestic abuse – an important message that people need to understand for us to reduce the number of people suffering and dying at the hands of someone close to them in our society.”

Alex Horne, General Secretary of the Football Association said:

“At The FA we know what enormous power the footballing community has to make positive change and we welcome this important campaign. We are keen to promote social change through football and our new Inclusion Advisory Board already supports well known campaigns such as Kick It Out and Football v Homophobia; we are proud to now add Football United Against Domestic Violence to that list.

“Domestic violence affects all of our society and football, especially as the World Cup approaches, has the potential to reach a huge proportion of the public. We can all make a difference by signing up to the Football United Against Domestic Violence campaign - clubs, fans and players - to bring domestic violence out from behind closed doors.”

Simon Green, Head of BT Sport said:

“Domestic violence affects hundreds of thousands women and children every year, many of whom are supported by Women’s Aid. Football United Against Domestic Violence aims to work with the footballing community in a positive way to help end both abusive behaviour and the sexist attitudes that underpin such abuse, and BT Sport is proud to sponsor the launch of this important campaign. Through Football United, football can be part of the solution to a problem that affects all of society.”

Justin Tomlinson, MP said:

““As a keen football fan, I know how powerful the beautiful game can be in uniting people, but also how a very small minority of fans can turn ugly and abusive giving everyone a bad name. There’s no excuse for domestic violence, and I want to bring the football community together to ensure no one can blame their abusive behaviour on football. I’m proud to support Football United Against Domestic Violence, and to sponsor its launch in Parliament.”

Political figures including David Green, MP, Minister for Policing, Clive Efford, MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media, and Sport; Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Gloria de Piero, MP; and Kevin Hurley, the PPC for Surrey attended the launch of Football United against Domestic Violence. ACPO will be supporting the campaign alongside their own drive to reduce domestic violence during the world cup, and the Campaign is being supported by police forces across the country.

About Women’s Aid

Women's Aid is the national domestic violence charity that co-ordinates and supports an England-wide network of over 300 local services working to end domestic violence against women and children. Keeping the voices of survivors at the heart of its work, Women's Aid campaigns for better legal protection and services, providing a strategic "expert view" to government on laws, policy and practice affecting abused women and children. In partnership with its national network, Women's Aid runs public awareness and education campaigns, bringing together national and local action, and developing new training and resources. Women's Aid provides a package of vital 24 hour lifeline services through its publications (available in 11 languages including English), websites (www.womensaid.org.uk and www.thehideout.org.uk), and running the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Refuge. Women's Aid is a registered charity no 1054154.

0808 2000 247: Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge).

The Women’s Aid Website can be found at: www.womensaid.org.uk. This is a comprehensive website about domestic violence and its impact on women and children. The website has help sections for women experiencing domestic violence, as well as policy briefings and research findings. Women’s Aid also runs a website for children and young people experiencing domestic violence www.thehideout.org.uk

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk