It's coming home. Oh no, sorry, it's not

It’s not coming home and I wish you weren’t either.

Euros 2020. The highlight of year. Gareth Southgate leading our boys in white to the final. 120 minutes of white-knuckle entertainment, to see Italy win at the final hurdle. Unlucky. Unluckier for others.

Statistics taken from the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup report that during football tournaments domestic abuse dramatically rises. It is recorded that domestic abuse surges by 38% on the days that England lose. Domestic abuse incidents rise by 26% when the team draw a match or win.

While, of course, football tournaments do not cause abuse, which is a choice a perpetrator makes, they can exacerbate pre –existing abusive behaviours.

Currently 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse within their lifetime. On average 2 women a week are murdered, as are 30 men per year due to domestic abuse.

There is no single crime of ‘ Domestic Abuse’, however, there a number of different types of behaviours which take place that can be classed as an offence.  In the context of domestic abuse, abusive behaviour is defined by parliament, in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, if it consists of any of the following:-

• physical or sexual abuse;
• violent or threatening behaviour;
• controlling or coercive behaviour;
• economic abuse;
• psychological, emotional or other abuse;

and it does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.

Examples of domestic abuse can include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Assault
• ABH (Actual Bodily Harm)
• GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm)
• Threatening to kill
• Wounding
• Strangling
• Choking
• Harassment
• Criminal damage to property
• Putting the victim in fear of violence
• Sexual assault
• Rape
• Kidnap
• Forced marriage
• Theft
• Female Genital Mutilation
• Coercive Control

If you or anyone you know is being subjected to domestic abuse, please contact the Domestic Violence and Abuse Department (DVAD) for expert advice as to what protective measures are available, either by clicking on the links, or by telephoning Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855.

Alternatively, if you have been accused of an offence, Johnson Astills are experts in criminal law, and are able to assist 24 hours of the day whether at the police station or at Court. If you need advice or assistance from the criminal department at Johnson Astills please contact us on 0116 255 4855.