PEOPLE throughout the world have been glued to their televisions over the past few weeks to watch and experience the emotional highs and lows of the planet's premier football competition.

The success or lack of it by different teams has huge effects on whole nations, witness for example last night's ecstatic scenes in South Korea and the mood of depression hanging over Italy today.

But so far this World Cup has thankfully seen none of the violent hooliganism too often associated with big football clashes in the past thanks to efficient policing in the host countries and international police intelligence networks which prevented the yobs getting to games.

At home in East Lancashire however we hear today that, despite England's successful campaign, the World Cup has led to an upsurge in reported incidents of domestic violence.

A total 46 incidents were reported last weekend in Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley following the Denmark game and 15 and 14 each on the days of the Sweden and Argentina matches.

Before the tournament began police anticipated trouble and mounted a campaign to try to curb the rise in domestic violence that they knew from experience occurred during major sporting events.

They believed that friends and relatives being closely confined together at home for lengthy periods in front of the television and high alcohol consumption in pubs and living rooms was a recipe for domestic violence and they were right.

Alcohol is undoubtedly a major factor in this violence as we can see by the number of assaults that take place in the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.

But neither football nor anything else can be used as an excuse for domestic violence that leaves so many wives and partners physically hurt and their children psychologically scarred for life.

Police must pursue offenders with vigour to reduce statistics that shame all of us.