Campaign sees reduction in drink driving and increase in domestic abuse reporting

A Wiltshire Police campaign aimed at tackling drink driving and raising awareness of domestic abuse support during the FIFA World Cup has led to a decrease in drink drive offences and a rise in domestic abuse-related reporting.

Over the past few weeks, we have stepped up our policing presence across Wiltshire to ensure the tournament can be enjoyed by all, while also running a dual campaign focusing on drink driving and domestic abuse, both of which typically rise during international football tournaments.

This campaign has had the simultaneous aims of reducing the number of drink drive incidents, increasing awareness of support available to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and encouraging friends and family of domestic abuse victims to recognise domestic abuse behaviours and seek support.

The campaign has involved drink drive posters in pubs across Wiltshire, officers handing out ‘yellow cards’ containing drink drive deterrence messaging at high footfall locations, plus a targeted social media campaign breaking down the potential signs of domestic abuse.

Results

Across the eight days on which England matches were played, in the two hours before and six hours after kick-off, logs related to domestic abuse increased by 33% compared to the same time period last year – from 46 to 61.

Data provided by FearFree – a victim support charity – showed referrals for support to their domestic abuse service in Wiltshire also increased by 15.1% compared to the previous 28 days.

Road related offence logs for the same days decreased slightly from 74 to 71, while the number of drink/drive charges over the entire tournament decreased from 40 to 37 compared to the same period last year.

We also responded to 37 incidents directly linked to the World Cup across the tournament period, making 10 arrests for a range of offences including assault and being drunk and disorderly.

Chief Inspector Al Lumley was the Silver Commander for Wiltshire Police’s operational response to the World Cup.

Ch Insp Lumley said: “This has been a successful campaign and policing operation across the World Cup period, ensuring the public could enjoy the tournament as safely as possible.

“In the lead up to and during the operation, our licensing and NPT officers worked closely with premises to ensure they had appropriate safeguarding measures and security to keep their customers safe, which has resulted in a relatively low number of football-related incidents across the period.

“Simultaneously, our campaign focusing on domestic abuse and drink driving has had the desired impact.

“During previous international tournaments, we haven’t always seen a rise in reports of domestic abuse – but we know our partner agencies, such as victim support charities, often experience an increase of people seeking support.

“For this tournament however, there has been a rise in the number of reports compared to last year. While this, of course, is not a positive, I am hopeful that the data reflects that more victims feel able to come forward.

“I want to reiterate that domestic abuse will never be tolerated, and support is available for anyone experiencing it.

“At the same time, it is positive to see a reduction in drink drive offences compared to the same period last year, despite the World Cup taking place.

“Through our enforcement activity, high-visibility patrols and engagement work with the public, we have reinforced the message that there is never an excuse to get behind the wheel after drinking.

“I would like to thank our officers, staff, partner agencies and local businesses for their support throughout the tournament, and to any members of the public who called in to report concerns around potential drink driving.”

Domestic abuse support and advice can be found on the Wiltshire Police website. More information about the consequences of drink driving, and online reporting, can be found be found here.