Violent history of partners to be disclosed as Clare’s Law rolled out nationwide

Clare’s Law, aimed at protecting women from violent abuse by their partners, will be rolled out across the country by March


Clare Wood was murdered by George Appleton in 2009 Photo: PA

By Hayley Dixon

7:49AM GMT 25 Nov 2013

A pilot scheme to protect women from violent partners, known as Clare’s Law, is to be rolled out nationwide.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is expected to announce the full implementation of the law which forces police to disclose details of a person’s violent past if their partner requests it.

It has been piloted in Greater Manchester, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire and Gwent since September 2012.

Due to the success of the trials, which has seen 400 women given information, the scheme will be rolled out across England and Wales in March.

The legislation is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton in 2009.
The mother-of-one, who had met Appleton on Facebook, was unaware of his horrific history of violence against women, including repeated harassment, threats and the kidnapping at knifepoint of one of his ex-girlfriends.
He strangled her and set her on fire before taking his own life in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Writing for the Sun Mrs May said that in the past there had been “considerable confusion” about how and when police are able to share information with members of the public.

She said: "Domestic abuse shatters lives — Clare's Law provides people with the information they need to escape an abusive situation before it ends in tragedy.

"The national scheme will ensure that more people can make informed decisions about their relationship and escape if necessary. This is an important step towards ensuring we do better by women like Clare Wood in the future."
Under the law, police can disclose previous convictions for violence and it they think the person is in danger, they will also offer help, in some cases rehousing the person.

Controversially, the scheme can also disclose previous allegations of abuse, even if they were not proven and did not lead to a conviction.

After the death of his daughter, Miss Woods’ father Michael Brown campaigned for a change in the law to protect women


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ationwide.html

This fucking stinks. I want to be protected from violent women as well. Where is my fucking right to information?