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Police launch pilot scheme allowing queries about domestic violence history Police launch pilot scheme allowing queries about domestic violence history
(35 minutes later)
A pilot scheme known as Clare's Law, which gives people the right to ask questions about their partner's violent past, has been launched by four police forces today as part of a 12-month trial. A pilot scheme known as Clare's Law, which gives people the right to ask questions about their partner's violent past, has been launched by four police forces as part of a 12-month trial.
Clare's Law is named after a Salford mother – Clare Wood – who was murdered and set on fire by her abusive partner George Appleton, whom she met on Facebook. Unbeknown to her, Appleton had previous convictions for harassing his girlfriends, including kidnapping his ex-partner at knifepoint.Clare's Law is named after a Salford mother – Clare Wood – who was murdered and set on fire by her abusive partner George Appleton, whom she met on Facebook. Unbeknown to her, Appleton had previous convictions for harassing his girlfriends, including kidnapping his ex-partner at knifepoint.
At the inquest into 36-year-old Wood's death, coroner Jennifer Leeming said women in abusive relationships should have "the right to know" about the violent pasts of the men they were involved with. The police forces involved are Greater Manchester, Wiltshire and Gwent along with Nottinghamshire, following a campaign by Wood's father and family. At the inquest into 36-year-old Wood's death, the coroner, Jennifer Leeming, said women in abusive relationships should have the right to know about the violent pasts of the men they were involved with. The police forces involved are Greater Manchester, Wiltshire and Gwent along with Nottinghamshire, following a campaign by Wood's father and family.
The pilot offers a formal mechanism for people to inquire whether their partner has a violent or abusive past. Third parties – such as relatives, neighbours or concerned officials – can also seek disclosure of information. It was cautiously welcomed by a leading domestic abuse charity in Manchester.The pilot offers a formal mechanism for people to inquire whether their partner has a violent or abusive past. Third parties – such as relatives, neighbours or concerned officials – can also seek disclosure of information. It was cautiously welcomed by a leading domestic abuse charity in Manchester.
Karen Harrison of the Women's Domestic Abuse Helpline says they welcome anything that brings the issue of domestic abuse into the public eye even if it only helps a small percentage of women. "If it saves one life, we've got to welcome it," she said. Karen Harrison of the Women's Domestic Abuse Helpline said it welcomed anything that brought the issue of domestic abuse into the public eye, even if it only helped a small percentage of women. "If it saves one life, we've got to welcome it," she said.
"Most perpetrators have never been in trouble with the police before and it may give women a false sense of security if they are concerned that something is wrong and make a telephone call and find out there are no previous convictions. I would urge women to go with their gut instinct, talk to agencies like us and discuss their concerns.""Most perpetrators have never been in trouble with the police before and it may give women a false sense of security if they are concerned that something is wrong and make a telephone call and find out there are no previous convictions. I would urge women to go with their gut instinct, talk to agencies like us and discuss their concerns."
Harrison said when the pilot ends in 12 months' time, the helpline may no longer exist as it only has funding guaranteed for a few months. "It concerns me that the resources to support the helpline may not be there," she said. "We might get a phone call from someone in Manchester and the nearest refuge is in Blackburn, but all the woman's support network is in Manchester. It's very difficult." Harrison said that when the pilot ended in 12 months' time, the helpline might no longer exist as it only had funding guaranteed for a few months. "It concerns me that the resources to support the helpline may not be there," she said. "We might get a phone call from someone in Manchester and the nearest refuge is in Blackburn, but all the woman's support network is in Manchester. It's very difficult."
Furthermore, with Sarah's Law, disclosure of information was only made in around 6% of cases. The helpline receives 5,500 contacts a year from people in Greater Manchester and one of the biggest criticisms of the service is that it's constantly engaged. In Greater Manchester, there have been 14 domestic homicides in recent years where women have been killed by partners or former partners. With Sarah's Law, which allows people to discover if sex offenders are living in their area, disclosure of information has only been made in around 6% of cases. The helpline receives 5,500 contacts a year from people in Greater Manchester and one of the biggest criticisms of the service is that it is constantly engaged. In Greater Manchester, 14 women have been killed by partners or former partners in recent years.
She said: "We have women locked in the house, who are not allowed out. Some are not treated as humans – they are sexually assaulted or raped, and when they complain they are told: 'You are my wife, that is what is expected of you.'"She said: "We have women locked in the house, who are not allowed out. Some are not treated as humans – they are sexually assaulted or raped, and when they complain they are told: 'You are my wife, that is what is expected of you.'"
Harrison says one woman had been in touch who had never received a birthday card as if she never existed. Another woman's ribs were cracked, so that the abuse wasn't visible. "There's one woman in her 70s who has arthritis and her mobility is limited. Her partner kicks her in the knees – it's horrendous and it's important that people can speak to a human being who actually cares." Harrison said one woman had been in touch who had never received a birthday card. Another woman's ribs were cracked, so that the abuse wasn't visible. "There's one woman in her 70s who has arthritis and her mobility is limited. Her partner kicks her in the knees – it's horrendous and it's important that people can speak to a human being who actually cares."
There are victims who are professional women – even lawyers dealing with family law have been victims of domestic violence. "Where Clare's Law is going to work is when people have hit rock bottom," she adds. She also has concerns about women's safety once they have the information about their partner's past. There are victims who are professional women – even lawyers dealing with family law have been victims of domestic violence, she said. "Where Clare's Law is going to work is when people have hit rock bottom," she added. She also had concerns about women's safety once they had the information about their partner's past.
DS Phil Owen of Greater Manchester police admits it is not a panacea for the "very heinous crime" of domestic violence, because it's a complex issue. "Clearly we are hoping to give some choice to victims about their future," he said. "The scheme allows an individual, whether it be the person or a third-party, such as a concerned relative, to ask for disclosure of information." DS Phil Owen of Greater Manchester police admitted it was not a panacea for the "very heinous crime" of domestic violence, because it was a complex issue. "Clearly we are hoping to give some choice to victims about their future," he said. "The scheme allows an individual, whether it be the person or a third party, such as a concerned relative, to ask for disclosure of information."
The police-led initiative also involves other agencies, such as probation, social services and housing. The police will work with agencies such as Data Protection to ensure human rights are not breached during the process. There will be a number of checks in place to avoid spurious applications for disclosure, he added. "It gives people information so that they can make an informed choice."The police-led initiative also involves other agencies, such as probation, social services and housing. The police will work with agencies such as Data Protection to ensure human rights are not breached during the process. There will be a number of checks in place to avoid spurious applications for disclosure, he added. "It gives people information so that they can make an informed choice."
The Home Office said domestic violence is a "dreadful crime" that sees millions of families and women suffer years of abuse, which is why they are constantly looking at new ways of protecting victims. The Home Office said domestic violence was a "dreadful crime" that saw millions of families and women suffer years of abuse, and it was constantly looking at new ways of protecting victims.
They have ringfenced £40m of stable funding for domestic and sexual violence support services and helplines until 2015. It has ringfenced £40m of stable funding for domestic and sexual violence support services and helplines until 2015.
Salford MP Hazel Blears, who is Clare Wood's constituency MP, said the scheme doesn't pretend to be a magic bullet for the issue, but it gives people information so that they can make an informed decision. She wants to see it widely publicised, with leaflets and posters in police stations and doctor's surgeries and Sure Start Centres. The Salford MP Hazel Blears, who was Wood's constituency MP, said the scheme did not pretend to be a magic bullet for the issue, but gave people information so that they could make an informed decision. She said she wanted to see it widely publicised, with leaflets and posters in police stations, doctor's surgeries and Sure Start Centres.