Clare's Law 

The domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS), also known as Clare's law, enables the police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner's or ex partner's previous abusive or violent offending. 

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse includes domestic violence. It is a terrible crime. It ruins the lives of victims and their families. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 says that domestic abuse is not just physical violence, but can also be emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour or financial abuse.

What is the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme?

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is also known as “Clare’s Law” after Clare Wood. She was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Manchester in 2009. The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme started in all police forces in England and Wales in March 2014.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme tells the police how to share information about a person’s previous violent or abusive offending. This includes emotional abuse, controlling behaviour, or financial abuse by a person. It can protect a partner or ex-partner from being a victim of abuse.

Information can be shared about a person’s history of violence or abuse if it will prevent further crime.

Any information shared by the police must follow other laws such as the Human Rights Act 1998, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

From 2015 the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme includes ex-partners as well as current partners.

How does the Domestic violence disclosure scheme help victims?

It is a way of sharing information so if you are in an intimate personal relationship with a person who was violent or abusive, you can make the right choices. You can decide whether to continue the relationship. Or you can decide about your personal safety if you are no longer in the relationship.

How the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme works?

"Right to ask” is when you ask the police or agencies for information on another person. If you are worried that another person could hurt or abuse you, you can ask if they have a police record. Family, friends or those who may be responsible for your safeguarding such as a social worker, can also ask for you.

Under “right to know” the police can check if the person there are concerns about has a police record. If they do have a record, the police will share that information to protect you.

You can ask the police for information by going into a police station or by asking online.

You will have to tell the police about the relationship with the person you are worried about. You will have to say how long you have known them.

The police officer who helps you will know how the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme works. They will tell you what happens next. They may give you some information to take home. They will tell you about the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme and other organisations that can help you.