A CAMPAIGN is being launched to coincide with the World Cup which kicks off today urging people to “give domestic abuse the red card”.

Awareness posters will be shown on buses, and in pubs, bars and other places where sports are regularly screened as research shows domestic abuse rates rose during the 2010 World Cup by 38 per cent when England lost, and by 26 per cent when they won. Calls to the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) helpline rose by one third.

Sarah Hill, IDAS director, said: “The impact the World Cup has on domestic violence is largely based on people drinking more than usual. Alcohol should never be used as an excuse for violence but where people drink more, we do see an increase in violent or abusive behaviour.

“IDAS can offer advice, accommodation and support to anyone living in fear of domestic abuse and we’d appeal for people to get in touch if they are concerned about a their partner’s behaviour.”

Chief Inspector Alisdair Dey said: “It can take a great deal of courage for someone to accept that a relationship is an abusive one. It’s important victims are aware of the support available.”

l North Yorkshire Police figures showed 8,778 domestic incidents were recorded in York between April 2008 and April 2013; in Selby, there were 3,308 incidents and in Scarborough and Ryedale, 7,515 calls were logged.

In these incidents, 205 children aged ten and under were victims, another 2,228 11 to 18-year-olds were victims, while there were 1,307 offenders in that age bracket. Five offenders were aged 80 and over, with the oldest aged 96. The oldest victim of a domestic incident was 99-years-old.

Domestic crime incidents are not all violence-related, and could include burglary, theft, criminal damage or antisocial behaviour by family members.

Contact IDAS on 03000 110110, the IDAS Rape Support Line on 0300 1110777 or visit idas.org.uk. To report domestic abuse, phone the police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.