A key figure in the emergency department at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust hopes Euro 2024 will be enjoyed safely and peacefully.
Both England and Scotland are in this year’s football tournament in Germany with both teams having already played their first games.
A higher number of people than normal across Cumbria are set to gather in pubs, bars and homes to watch the matches.
Dr Emma Farrow, who is an Emergency Medicine Consultant at NCIC, was speaking after the tournament kicked off.
She said: “International football tournaments like Euro 2024 are fantastic events and we want people to enjoy the games in the right spirit and hopefully cheer the team into the final on July 14.
“This might be in pubs and bars or at gathered around the TV at home.
“We know that passions can run high on such occasions and sadly we know that sometimes this spills over into anti-social behaviour, violent disorder and domestic abuse.
“We want everyone to go out and have fun, but we ask you to do so safely. Please think about how much you’re drinking, avoid confrontation and make plans to get home safely.
“If you do need the NHS, remember that we’re here to help you, please treat us respectfully. You will see signs in our A&E departments asking for you to remember we are here to help you and we are human – abuse towards staff is not acceptable.
“If you are a victim of abuse our staff in A&E and all our services can provide a safe space for you to ask for help and we urge you to. You are not alone please reach out for help.”
Throughout the competition Cumbria Police are running a campaign to support any victims of domestic abuse. They have enhanced measures to tackle offenders and protect potential victims. For anyone suffering abuse please know help and support is available.
What Cumbria Police officers are doing
- Additional visible patrols will be out in the main nightlife areas of the county.
- Officers will be deployed in specialist roles as part of the force’s efforts to tackle the issue of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. These officers are trained to spot potential offenders who may target vulnerable people coming out of pubs and clubs and at taxi ranks and takeaways.
- There will be extra resources in place to attend any reports of domestic abuse at the times people may be returning home from the pub or when the whistle is being blown on big matches.
- The operational response will also include work in custody units once suspects have been arrested. As well as investigating crimes and safeguarding victims, trained officers can make referrals to other agencies to put abusers on a path to change their ways.
Useful contacts for alcohol problems
- Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups.
- Al-Anon Family Groups offers support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers, whether they're still drinking or not. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and can be attended by 12- to 17-year-olds who are affected by another person's drinking, usually a parent.
- We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse. If you are over 50 and worried about your drinking, call 0808 8010 750
- Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol. Adfam operates an online message board and a database of local support groups.
- The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) provides a free, confidential telephone and email helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned about their welfare. Call 0800 358 3456 for the Nacoa helpline.
- SMART Recovery groups help people decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
Caring for an alcoholic? Find out where you can get support.
Find out more about treatments for alcohol dependency