Constabulary supports domestic abuse campaign during World Cup

Hertfordshire Constabulary is supporting a county-wide domestic abuse campaign during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ football tournament.

Sadly, national statistics show that offences of domestic abuse and other Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) offences often increase during major football tournaments.

As the tournament kicks off tonight, the constabulary is supporting the ‘We Won, I Lost’ campaign in partnership with the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, Watford Football Club, Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust, Stevenage Football Club and Watford legal firm Hab Law.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse while signposting victims and survivors to routes to get help and support.

Domestic abuse is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) and it could lead to a breakdown of your relationship and/or family. You could even be arrested and go to prison if you are convicted of an offence.

Hertfordshire Constabulary receives an average of 59 domestic abuse-related reports every single day and the force has specially trained teams that offer support for those affected by domestic abuse on a 24/7 basis, 365 days of the year.

Detective Superintendent Clare Smith said: ‘Football can be a highly emotional game and no matter how your team do, there is no excuse for taking your feelings out on your family or partner.

‘During the tournament, we are delivering a joint campaign to tackle Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) – issues we know can rise during major football events.  We will be sharing impactful social media content, including videos, graphics and podcasts, to raise awareness and support those affected.’

If you are a victim of domestic abuse or affected by domestic abuse, you can call the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline on 08 088 088 088. It is free to call between 10am and 8pm from Monday to Friday. This number will not appear on your phone bill.  You can also visit the Herts Sunflower website.

You can also report domestic abuse to Hertfordshire Constabulary online. If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is, and there’s an emergency that’s ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now.

Stay safe and drink responsibly

With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ football tournament starting on Thursday, 11 June in Canada, Mexico and USA, Hertfordshire Constabulary is urging supporters to enjoy the tournament safely and responsibly, whether that is at home with family and friends, in one of the many venues showing the games across the county or out at the tournament itself.

England’s first match is on the evening of Wednesday 17 June against Croatia with further group games against Ghana (Tuesday 23 June) and Panama (Saturday 27 June).

Detective Superintendent Clare Smith said: ‘We want supporters to enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in a safe, friendly and peaceful way.

‘It promises to be an exciting tournament, and we know emotions can run high, but we would ask fans to be mindful that not everyone in Hertfordshire shares that enthusiasm, so please be considerate and avoid disrupting others’ daily lives.

‘The vast majority of football fans – whether travelling to matches or watching at home, in bars or pubs – are law-abiding and respectful. However, we will take firm action against anyone who behaves in a drunk or disorderly manner.

‘In addition, we have engaged with licensed premises to ensure they are clear on our expectations throughout the tournament.

‘We have robust policing plans in place for all England matches, with officers deployed in town and city centres to help people feel safe, enjoy the games and respond quickly to incidents. This also means increased patrols on the roads to deal with reports of drink and drug driving.

‘Furthermore, anyone considering travelling to Canada, Mexico or the USA to engage in football-related disorder should be aware that police forces are working closely together to identify and, where necessary, detain individuals before or during the tournament.

‘We recognise that football tournaments can lead to an increase in public disorder, which is why additional resources will be in place on England matchdays. However, the risk is not confined to venues showing the games and can also extend into people’s homes.’

Alcohol and road safety

If you are driving, do not drink and/or take drugs. It is not worth the risk. There is no way to know how much you can drink and stay under the legal alcohol limit, since it can depend on your weight, age, metabolism, the amount of food you have eaten and other factors.

Remember, alcohol takes longer than you might think to pass through your system. If you have been drinking the night before, there is a strong possibility you could be over the limit the next morning.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit (RPU) will lead the response by increasing high visibility patrols on all our roads, both strategic and rural: there will be no road that can be used to evade being caught.

If you know you will be drinking later on, plan beforehand how you are getting home safely – you could arrange for one of your group to be the ‘designated driver’. However, it is often unplanned moments of drinking when people decide to take a risk – if you do have a drink, book a licensed taxi.

In addition, Hertfordshire Constabulary has hundreds of police officers trained to take drug wipe tests at the side of the road, meaning you are just as likely to get caught for drug driving.

Drinking too much alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and could lead you into trouble with the police. It can make you more aggressive, more likely to commit a crime and impair your judgement.

You are less in control if you are drunk and more vulnerable to being a victim of crime, including having your wallet or mobile phone stolen, being assaulted or even sexually assaulted.

Drunken behaviour, including urinating in the street, could result in police action such as an £80 fine or a night in the cells.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is working closely with licensed premises and volunteer organisations to make sure that you can enjoy the football matches in a safe environment.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is also asking anyone that sees someone become suddenly unwell on a night out to report it and seek help immediately.

If you’re worried about your own safety, you can also ‘Ask for Angela’ at the bar to alert staff.

Fans travelling to Canada, Mexico and USA

Hertfordshire Constabulary will be speaking to everyone who has a banning order, advising them of the consequences of breaching their bans. Those who are subject to football banning orders will be required to surrender their passports to their nominated police station.

There will be police officers in the UK and in Canada, Mexico and the USA gathering intelligence, so any fans seen to be misbehaving could be subject to a football banning order on their return to the UK, as well as being arrested and potentially charged for offences abroad.

You can find out more information and advice on how you can enjoy the tournament safely on Hertfordshire Constabulary’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026™ website.