Kicking off?

.... leads to extra time and penalties 

Are you planning to toast England’s success, or otherwise, during this month’s World Cup?

Our new World Cup campaign aims to encourage responsible drinking and remind people of the possible consequences if things do get out of hand. 

Heavy drinking mixed with group pressure and the emotion-charged atmosphere that major football events create, can lead to people behaving out of character and turn minor incidents into violent confrontations. 

We want you to enjoy the game, but know your limits and don’t end your match day in a cell.

Operational activities

Our operational preparations for the World Cup are well underway with officers working with licensees in a bid to make the tournament an enjoyable one. 

Chief Inspector Peter Coppin-Harris said: “Our policing priority is to make sure that this is an enjoyable tournament for everyone, wherever they watch it and that those causing drink related trouble are dealt with robustly. 

“Anyone caught causing trouble or disorder during the World Cup risks getting locked up and may be issued with a Football Banning Order which could see them banned from every football ground in England and Wales.” 

Based on data from the last World Cup in 2006, on average violence related incidents reported to Devon and Cornwall Police increased by 76% on major match days. Our police call centre also saw a significant increase in calls to police up to 10 hours after an England match and overall there was a 108% increase in drunk and disorderly crimes. 

Chief Inspector Coppin-Harris added: “Our advice to would-be offenders is clear, enjoy the World Cup but don’t drink so much the night ends in violence.

“What should have been an enjoyable game can end with life changing criminal prosecution.” 

Advice to drivers

Officers are also warning morning after drivers to be aware of a World Cup hangover. Officers throughout the region will be out in force the morning after match days to identify those still over the limit. Supporters are urged to have a good time and enjoy the game, but plan ahead and don’t drink large amounts of alcohol is driving early the next day.  

Enter our world cup competition!

Our campaign messages will be displayed on posters and leaflets which are being distributed throughout Devon & Cornwall. As part of this campaign, we are running a prize draw competition to win some fantastic prizes – please see below for details:

Predict the answers to both of the following FIFA World Cup™ questions for your chance to win one of our fantastic prizes -

 

Q1. Which team do you predict to win the FIFA 2010 World Cup™?

 

Q2. Which player will be the overall top goal scorer?

 

Each set of correct answers will be entered into our prize draw to win one of the following prizes –  

• Family ticket to an Exeter City FC match (2 adults, 2 children)
• Signed Exeter City FC football
• 2  tickets to a Plymouth Argyle match
• 2 tickets to a Torquay United pre-season match
• 2 x cinema tickets

To enter the competition, simply email your answers and contact details to: competitions@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk 

Alternatively, please submit your answers by post to the following address: 

Devon & Cornwall Police

External Communications Officer

Corporate Communications

Devon House

Middlemoor

EX2 7HQ 

Competition closes - Friday 25^th June 2010 

Competition terms and conditions   

1. To enter the prize draw competition, you must be 18 years old or over. If you are under 18, you will need to provide a parental signature with your competition entry. 
2. Only one entry per person
3.  All entries must be received by midnight on Friday 25 June 2010.
4. The winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by the closing date. The draw will be made by an independent person.
5. Prize draw winners will be notified by post or email within one month of the end of the World Cup on 12^th July 2010. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
6. All elements of the prizes are subject to availability, non transferable and there are no cash alternatives. The prizes do not include travel to or from the events.
7. If an advertised prize is not available, we reserve the right to offer an alternative prize of equal value.
8. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of despatch will not be accepted as proof of receipt.
9. The winners’ names will be made available by writing to: Devon & Cornwall Police, External Communications Officer, Corporate Communications, Devon House, Middlemoor, Devon, EX2 7HQ.
10. This competition is not open to employees of Devon & Cornwall Police, or members of their immediate families.
11. Personal information will not be collected, stored, shared or used for any other purposes except to notify the winner. All competition entries and personal details will be destroyed when the competition has ended.