A PILOT scheme of Clare’s Law has begun in Gwent, allowing people to find out from police if their partner has a history of domestic violence.
Under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), anyone can ask the police to check whether a new or existing partner has a violent past. If police checks show a person may be at risk of domestic violence from their partner, the police will then consider disclosing the information.
The scheme is also known as Clare’s Law, after Clare Wood, a 36-year-old mother who was murdered by a former boyfriend with an unknown violent background. She complained several times to Greater Manchester police about him before her death in 2009.
Domestic violence campaign group Refuge has criticised Clare’s Law, saying it will do little to protect victims.
Police forces in Manchester, Wiltshire and Nottingham are also taking part in the scheme, which will end in September 2013.
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