08 Mar 2014
On International Women's Day 2014, a police power that power gives men and women the right to ask whether a partner has a history of abuse and also enables the police to inform a potential victim of a partner's history is rolled out to all police forces
National Policing Lead on Domestic Abuse Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said:
“The roll out of Clare’s Law, Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), will increase the police’s ability to keep victims of domestic abuse safe.
"This power gives men and women the right to ask whether a partner has a history of abuse and also enables the police to inform a potential victim of a partner's history if considered necessary to protect them. There are safeguards to ensure this is handled carefully. We have seen positive examples of disclosures protecting victims in the forces that have been piloting this scheme.
“Improving our response to domestic abuse is a priority for the police. To build on the last decade’s progress on domestic abuse we need an absolute focus on the police’s core role – the first response to victims of abuse, the investigation and the subsequent action to protect victims from violence and abuse. The disclosure scheme is another tool to help us keep people safe.”
For more information please contact:
ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk
Communications office
By phone: 0800 538 5058
By email: press.office@npcc.police.uk