North East domestic abuse support services ready to help during World Cup
It's a week to go until the big sporting event
Domestic abuse support services in the North East are gearing up to offer help during the World Cup.
It's a week to go until the big sporting event which charities say can amplify abuse in homes.
Laura Seebohm, chief executive of Wearside Women in Need in Sunderland, said: "We know big football tournaments are really exciting for so many of us, but for countless women and children it really is a time of fear. You're not alone. This is really not the legacy that anyone in the football world wants to leave behind.
"Research by the University of Lancaster in the 2000s found that during multiple World Cup tournaments, domestic abuse incidents increased by 26% when England won and 38% when England lost. So there clearly is a real concern that domestic abuse will be exacerbated during the World Cup.
"I think it's really increased tension and emotional investment in games coupled with heavy alcohol use. Now it's really important to say neither football or alcohol cause domestic abuse, but they are a trigger, so they amplify abusive behaviours which already exist in a family home.
"That might be where externalised frustration and stress and emotional volatility happens. And sometimes there's a heightening sort of playing out of masculinity and control. There are other times that it could be gambling losses, something like that, and those frustrations being taken out in the home.
"We're already talking to our colleagues from Northumbria Police, as we've done in previous international tournaments, where we've come together and make sure that we're working really closely to support victims, survivors, their children in family homes, and also where we can work with those who are causing the abuse and the violence within the family.
"We've had domestic specialists in control rooms, we already have that going on at the moment, but we increase our visibility and our presence. We potentially have specialist domestic abuse support workers in police stations and sometimes even going out in patrol cars when there's a call out for a domestic abuse related incident.
"I think that everyone understands that there might be increased risk for them, that they really understand that there is support out there for everyone, that they can go for confidential advice and support. People will be listened to and believed. The support goes at someone's own pace. No one will be forced to do anything."