Domestic abuser check 54 used times in one month
A STAGGERING 54 people were given information about their partners’ pasts in just one month after using ‘Clare’s Law.’
The initiative, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, allows both men and women to apply for information about the previous convictions of someone they are in a relationship with.
Northumbria Police says the number of applications have increased by 45%, with 54 people receiving information in December alone.
Now, abuse victims, campaigners and police have urged others to use the potentially life-saving law to help keep themselves safe.
Louise Miller claims she endured years of torment during her relationship with ex Ian Gordon Dixon.
Dixon, 43, is now serving nine months behind bars after being convicted of assaulting occasioning actual bodily harm, when Louise finally found the courage to contact police.
And the 34-year-old, from Ryton, Gateshead, is now urging other women to consider using Clare’s Law to find out about their partners’ pasts.
She said: “I only found out about it after the fact. I would definitely urge other people to use it. I had heard things about my partner, but I was young and naive when I met him.
“If I had my time again I would definitely consider using Clare’s Law.”
Elaine Langshaw, chief executive of domestic violence charity Newcastle Women’s Aid, says it’s important that women get as much information as possible about potentially abusive partners so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to stay in a relationship.
But she fears not enough women know about Clare’s Law, and are only accessing it after they have already been abused.
She said: “We do advocate the use of Clare’s Law. It’s really useful for women, but I don’t think enough people know about it.
“Having information about their partners’ pasts puts women in a better position to make a decision.
“Some of the women we work with are being told off their partner things like he can’t see his children because his ex is ‘crazy’, and when they are in a new relationship many believe that is the case.
“Or when their partner first becomes abusive they might believe it’s a one-off.
“My advice would be to access it at the earliest opportunity.”
Throughout December Northumbria Police ran a campaign to raise awareness of Clare’s Law.
During that month alone a total of 112 applications were submitted to the force – up from 77 the previous month.
Under the scheme concerned friends and family members can also make an application.
The law was brought in nationwide after Clare Wood was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2009 at her home in Salford, Greater Manchester.
It was later discovered that her ex-partner, George Appleton, had a history of violence against women.
He was found hanged in a local derelict building.
Clare’s family campaigned for a new law that would allow people to check out their partner’s background and whether they have any previous convictions.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme gives people ‘the right to ask’ police about a partner’s previous history of domestic violence.
There is also a ‘right to know’ element, which the police can use in certain circumstances to proactively disclose this information.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Dame Vera Baird QC said: “These are good results and we need to keep building on this awareness so we see the number of people making use of this scheme continue to grow.
“Many domestic abuse perpetrators are serial offenders – if one victim gets away, the chances are they’ll move onto the next.
“Passing on important information about a partner’s or would-be partner’s history of domestic abuse can save lives. I encourage anyone with the slightest doubt about someone’s past to get in touch with our officers.”
Det Chief Insp Lisa Laverick, of Northumbria Police’s safeguarding department, welcomed the rise in application.