Footballers unite against the scourge of domestic violence in Arsenal tournament
Members of the winning Arsenal Hackney Kicks team pick up their trophy - Credit: Arsenal FC via Getty Images
More than 150 men and women took part in a giant football tournament to raise awareness of the plague of domestic violence – estimated to cost almost £26 million a year.
The Stop Domestic Violence five-a-side event at the Market Road Football Pitches, in Holloway, on August 9, saw 19 teams battle it out to take home the coveted trophy.
The eventual winners, the Arsenal Hackney Kickz Team, picked up the cup at the Emirates Stadium as 60,000 took their seats before the Gunner’s opening game of the new season against Aston Villa. It was presented by Hilary Francis from Islington Council, who organised the tournament.
Dossier
At the start of this year, a town hall report revealed the shocking levels of domestic violence in the borough.
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A dossier delivered to the Health Scrutiny Committee showed there were almost 4,000 reported cases in 2012, including one murder, which represents half of all violent crime against women in Islington. But last year just 104 people were prosecuted for domestic violence offences.
In addition, it is estimated the abuse costs the borough £25.7m annually: £7.7m in health care and the rest on public services, like the criminal justice system, and also the economic disruption caused by victims taking time off work.
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Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for community safety, said: “This tournament was part of our ongoing work to raise awareness of the issue in Islington. We support strong action against those who cause domestic violence.”
For more information about tackling domestic violence in Islington see www.islington.gov.uk/domesticviolence.
