ACPO comment on domestic violence disclosure scheme pilots

ACPO lead on domestic abuse, Chief Constable Carmel Napier, said:

“ACPO is fully supportive of these pilots as a positive step in protecting women in domestic situations from harm. People should enjoy seamless safety and at all times be protected. A right to know and a right to ask will empower women to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their children when getting involved with a new partner.

“A national review of serial perpetrators of domestic abuse estimated that around 25,000 offenders of domestic violence had abused two or more different victims with violence or threats of violence in a three year period. Of those 2,500 had abused three or more victims and one force had an offender who had committed violence against eight different victims.

“If we hold this information and determine there is a risk of harm then we have a duty of care to disclose and inform to stop women from being victims in the first place.”

A link to the Home Office press notice can be found by clicking here.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk