Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Mark Ramsay via Flickr
Violence

Just one punch could kill, warns anti-violence campaign

Young men in the North are to be warned over the dangers of arguments which escalate into fights.

POLICE IN THE North have launched a new campaign to warn young men of the potentially fatal consequences of fist-fights.

The initiative, called One Punch, aims to show that even one blow received in a brawl can kill. It’s hoped the campaign will show men between 18 and 25 the risks of getting involved in an argument which escalates into a fight.

The PSNI said that over the past seven years, 18 people have died in the North as a result of single punches, with “many more” seriously injured. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter said:

With just one punch, lives have been destroyed and families lives have been wrecked. The majority of these incidents are fuelled by alcohol and can have a devastating impact a victim, their family and for the offender, who will likely face a murder or manslaughter charge.

Dr Russell McLaughlin, an expert in emergency care, has endorsed the initiative. He said: “I have been treating the victims of injury for many years and unfortunately I am all too aware of the potentially fatal consequences of a single blow to the head.”

The campaign is based on a similar initiative first introduced by police in West Yorkshire, who rolled out the scheme in 2009. They produced a video to hammer the message home:

Your Voice
Readers Comments
6
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.