News · Domestic abuse and the law

After England’s World Cup defeat: emergency domestic abuse protection and non-molestation orders

By Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK · 17 July 2026

England’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended on 15 July with a 2 to 1 semi final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta. For most households, the result meant sporting disappointment. For some people, however, major football matches can coincide with an increased risk of domestic abuse.

In immediate danger?

Call 999. If you are calling from a mobile and cannot speak, listen to the operator and press 55 when prompted. A silent call by itself does not automatically tell the police where you are or that help is required.

Before the tournament, the Crown Prosecution Service warned that domestic abuse reports have historically increased around England matches. It cited research examining reports to one police force in North West England during the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups. That study found a 26 per cent increase when England won or drew and a 38 per cent increase when England lost.

Those figures need to be treated carefully. The research was a relatively small historical study of reported incidents in one police force area. It identifies an association rather than proving that football causes abuse, and it does not mean every England defeat produces a nationwide 38 per cent increase.

Key point

The CPS has expressly stated that football does not cause domestic abuse. Alcohol, heightened emotions and disrupted routines may make an already abusive situation worse, but responsibility always rests with the person choosing to behave abusively.

Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence

Under the law in England and Wales, domestic abuse may include physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological or emotional abuse. It may involve one serious incident or a continuing pattern of behaviour.

Abuse can also continue after separation, particularly through stalking, harassment, financial control, excessive messaging, threats involving children or attempts to control child handovers.

Warning signs around a major sporting event might include threats following the result, smashing property, blocking someone from leaving, taking their phone or bank card, monitoring their location, frightening the children or blaming alcohol, stress or football for abusive conduct. No football result excuses any of this behaviour.

What is a non-molestation order?

A non-molestation order is an injunction made by the family court under the Family Law Act 1996. It is intended to protect someone, and where appropriate a relevant child, from abuse or harassment by a person with whom they have a qualifying family or personal connection.

Depending on the circumstances, an order may prohibit a person from using or threatening violence, harassing, intimidating or pestering the applicant, contacting the applicant directly or indirectly, approaching the applicant’s home, or engaging in specified behaviour towards a child. The precise wording is decided by the court.

A person can usually apply where the proposed respondent is a current or former partner, a close family member, someone with whom they live or previously lived, or another parent or person sharing parental responsibility for a child.

Key point

There is no court fee for applying for a non-molestation order. An occupation order can also be considered where the dispute concerns who may live in, return to or enter the family home.

Can a non-molestation order be made in an emergency?

Where immediate protection is needed, an applicant can ask the court to consider the case without notice. This is sometimes described as an emergency or ex parte application. It means the respondent is not told about the application before the initial hearing.

The court can take this step where it considers it just and convenient, including where there is a risk of significant harm to the applicant or a relevant child if an order is not made immediately, where advance warning could deter or prevent the applicant from continuing with the application, or where the respondent might deliberately avoid being served with the papers.

A without notice order is not a final determination that permanently excludes the respondent from the process. There will normally be a further hearing at which the respondent has an opportunity to respond. An initial emergency order will usually remain in place until that hearing.

How do you apply for a non-molestation order?

An application can be prepared online through the CourtNav service or submitted to an appropriate family court by email, post or in person. The main application is Form FL401. A supporting witness statement is also required, explaining what has happened and why protection is needed. If revealing an address or telephone number would create a risk, Form C8 can be used to ask the court to keep those details confidential.

The statement should be clear and factual. It can explain:

the most recent incident and any earlier pattern of abuse;
the words, threats or actions involved;
injuries or property damage;
police, medical or support service involvement;
whether children saw, heard or were affected by the incident;
why the applicant believes the risk is continuing; and
why an order is required urgently, where applicable.

Messages, photographs, call records and police reference numbers may be relevant, but someone in immediate danger should not delay seeking protection while attempting to assemble perfect evidence.

After the application or order is issued, the documents must be formally served on the respondent. The applicant should not serve them personally. A solicitor can arrange service, or the court can be asked to do so free of charge using Form D89.

Legal aid may be available where the applicant has evidence that they or their children have experienced domestic abuse and they meet the relevant financial requirements. A person does not need to obtain all the evidence before first speaking to a legal adviser.

How can an order protect children?

Children do not have to be physically assaulted to be affected by domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises a child as a victim in their own right where they see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse and are related to the victim or perpetrator.

The family court also recognises that children may suffer emotional and psychological harm from living in a home where abuse takes place, even when they are too young to understand exactly what is happening.

A non-molestation order can therefore include protection for a relevant child. Parents should tell the court about threats involving children, unsafe handovers, attempts to use the children to send messages, incidents at school or nursery, and any effect the behaviour is having on the child.

A non-molestation order does not necessarily determine long term arrangements for where a child lives or spends time. Separate child arrangements proceedings may sometimes be required. In any court decision about a child’s upbringing, the child’s welfare is the paramount consideration.

What happens if a non-molestation order is breached?

Breaching a non-molestation order without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. A person convicted on indictment can receive a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine or both. Where a breach is happening or someone is in immediate danger, call 999. A non emergency breach can be reported to the police on 101.

Where does family mediation fit?

Family mediation is not an emergency protection service and should not delay a police report, legal advice or an application for a non-molestation order. A person applying for an FL401 injunction does not have to attempt mediation first.

Where domestic abuse is alleged or disclosed, a mediator must assess whether mediation would be safe and suitable, and in some cases it will not be appropriate. Nobody should be pressured to negotiate directly with a person they fear, or to compromise over whether abusive behaviour must stop.

In other cases, mediation may be considered later for a clearly defined issue such as finances or child arrangements, but only where participation is voluntary and appropriate safeguards can be put in place. These might include separate meetings, remote attendance or shuttle mediation. Domestic abuse and urgency can also provide exemptions from the usual MIAM requirement before certain children or financial applications.

Sources of immediate support

Support lines

In England, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Wales, Live Fear Free is 0808 80 10 800. The Men’s Advice Line is 0808 801 0327, and Galop supports LGBT+ people affected by abuse on 0800 999 5428. All are free and confidential.

How this affects your situation

You do not need to attempt mediation, attend a MIAM or pay any court fee to apply for a non-molestation order. Form FL401 plus a witness statement is enough, and in urgent cases courts can act the same day without the other person being told first.

Children who see, hear or experience the effects of abuse are victims in their own right under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, so tell the court how the behaviour is affecting them, not only you.

If you later apply to court about children or finances, domestic abuse evidence exempts you from the MIAM, and our guide to domestic abuse and mediation explains every option, including the honest position on when mediation should not happen at all.

Jess’s view

“No result, no drink and no amount of stress ever causes abuse. Responsibility sits with the abuser alone. If you are frightened at home, protection comes first: the police, a non-molestation order, legal advice. Mediation has no place while anyone is unsafe. Where it helps later, on finances or arrangements, it happens only with proper safeguards, your full agreement, and never face to face unless you choose it.”

Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK