Description

• Forces across Britain are launching campaigns and using extra resources
  
• Posters declare 'leave the striking to the players' and 'let's have no foul play'
• In Essex 110 men will reportedly get personal visits, as will seven women
  
• Study found abuse up 38% whenever England lose - and 26% when they win

Police are launching a crackdown on domestic abusers during the World Cup after research showed violence soars after a match - even when England wins.

Forces across Britain are drafting in extra resources, launching hard-hitting poster campaigns and even paying personal visits to known offenders.

It comes after a study showed domestic incidents increase by more than a third when England loses a World Cup match - but also rise by 26 per cent when the team wins.

In Essex 117 fans, seven of them women, will reportedly be handed warnings after officers analysed their history of domestic and footballing crime.

A similar tactic is being employed in Northumbria, where officers warn they will be paying 'special attention' to people who are known to be a risk.

Elsewhere posters in single-sex toilets and on bus stops will depict distraught women next to slogans including 'Leave the striking to the players' and 'What time is kick off in your house?'

Officers were keen to stress the vast majority of football fans would cause no problems at all.

However, the move comes after a report found a steep increase in domestic violence during the tournament.

Researchers from Lancaster University examined crime figures from Lancashire Police during the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and found there was more violence on days when England played.

In Surrey the increase was far more dramatic - with a 61 per cent leap in domestic violence reports on the day England drew 0-0 with Algeria in South Africa four years ago.

Despite rising awareness, abuse has got worse since 2002.

The Lancaster University study, published in September in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, found the number of reports on match days rose from 64 in 2002 to 99 in 2010.

The study's authors, Dr Stuart Kirby and Professor Brian Francis wrote: 'Although it is difficult to say the tournament is a causal factor, the prestigious tournament does concentrate the risk factors into a short and volatile period, thereby intensifying the concepts of masculinity, rivalry and aggression.'

Several police forces have launched World Cup domestic violence campaigns today.