As part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, Leeds Women’s Aid is promoting the potentially life-saving (DVDS), known as Clare’s Law.
Clare’s Law is a police policy which gives people the legal right to ask if their partner has any history of abuse or violence. The purpose of the scheme is to empower people to make an informed choice about staying in a relationship, and prevent incidents of domestic abuse occurring, especially where there is a history of abuse.
Clare’s Law is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend in 2009, who had a history of violent offences. A former data protection loophole meant perpetrators could conceal their personal records, leaving their partners unaware of their past offences and at risk, much like Clare.
Clare’s father, Michael Brown, campaigned for change, he believed that if Clare had known about her partner’s violent past, she would never have entered into a relationship with him. In 2014, ‘Clare’s Law’ was formally rolled out in England and Wales.
How Clare’s Law Works:
You can make an application to the police under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme requesting information about your own current, or ex-partner, or you can request information from the police about the current or ex-partner of a close friend, neighbour or family member, because of the risk you believe they may pose.
The scheme has two elements, the right to ask, and the right to know. An individual or a third party can make an application – this is the right to ask. If the police then feel that the individual may be at risk of domestic abuse they may choose to make a disclosure. Disclosures will usually be made to the individual affected unless there is someone better able to support their safety.
The police can also make a disclosure of their own initiative if they receive information about the violent or abusive behaviour of someone that may impact the safety of their current or ex-partner – this is the right to know.
Applying for Clare’s Law:
Applications can be made by anyone over the age of 16, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, sex, class etc.,
Applications can be done in person at your local police station, or you can complete an online application, West Yorkshire Police version here: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/form/clares-law.
If a disclosure is to be made, it is expected to be within 28 days of the application, although this can vary. It is also standard for a Specialist Domestic Violence Officer to contact you (or your 3rd party) and to discuss why you are making a request.
If a disclosure is made, you may also have to sign paperwork to say you will only keep this information to yourself and the people responsible for keeping you safe, i.e., a social worker.
The Voices Project – Driving Change within West Yorkshire Police
The Women’s Group of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Voices Project has been working with West Yorkshire Police since January 2024, to address women’s experiences of interacting with police in relation to domestic abuse incidents. Conversations included encouraging the police to promote Clare’s Law, which wasn’t offered to some of the participants of the group when they reported their abusers to the police.
Since this involvement with West Yorkshire Police, there has been a huge rise in the use of Clare’s Law, estimated at 650%.
Learn more about this work: https://ldvs.uk/domestic-abuse-survivors-create-meaningful-change-within-west-yorkshire-police/
With greater awareness and understand, Clare’s Law has the potential to save lives.
Further Information:
APPLICATION FORM (West Yorkshire Police): https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/form/clares-law