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A CAMPAIGN has been launched to tackle increased levels of violence against women and girls during and after major sporting events.

Crimestoppers want to draw urgent attention to the distressing trend, with statistics and reports from frontline services showing that incidents of domestic abuse and gender-based violence spike around the time of significant sporting occasions.

Spokesperson Lydia Patsalides said: “Sport should unite and inspire us, and for the most part it does. But we cannot ignore the well-documented rise in violence towards women and girls that coincides with major fixtures.

"These are not isolated incidents - they represent a national issue that affects communities across the UK.”

The campaign encourages the public to recognise the signs of violence and use Crimestoppers' anonymous reporting service to speak up if they are concerned about someone’s wellbeing.