Officers using Clare’s Law to keep more people safe
Main article content
More women than ever before are seeking to protect themselves and their families by asking the police whether their partners are hiding a violent and dangerous past.
So far in 2025, more than 1,500 people have made requests to Nottinghamshire Police under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme – a huge increase driven partly by popular culture.
The scheme – widely known as Clare’s Law – was introduced in 2014 and gives anyone the “right to ask” the police whether their partner has a history of domestic abuse.
More than 650 of those requests have been granted in 2025.
It also allows officers to proactively warn people who may be unaware of their ex-partner’s abusive past. This is called the “right to know.”
A total of 188 proactive ‘right to know’ disclosures have also been made – giving people the knowledge they need to potentially end the abusive relationship they as early as possible.
The increase in “right to ask” referrals has been attributed in part to a high-profile storyline in the TV show Emmerdale.
In order to deal with the increased demand, Nottinghamshire Police is now embracing new technology, with disclosures being made via secure video link as well as in person.
The secure conferencing system is already being used to speak in confidence with victims of domestic abuse and has been designed with confidentiality at its core.
So far this year, the national 28 day turnaround target for disclosures has been met 95 per cent of the time – despite the significant increase in demand.
Detective Inspector Jackie Price, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Clare’s Law really is one of the most impactful pieces of legislation I have come across.
“It is also a fitting tribute to the person this legislation was named in honour of – a young woman who was killed by a man with a hidden violent past.
“The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme has been a key part of our safeguarding process for some time now and is embedded in our policies and procedures for consideration in every case of domestic abuse.
“Because the truth is that domestic abuse is rarely a one-off; it is mostly a pattern of repeating and escalating behaviours perpetrated against multiple partners.
“So, whilst it remains a challenge to respond to such high levels of demand, we also have to remember that each of these requests is an opportunity for us to end abusive relationships and to protect people from very serious harm in the future.”
Making a request under Clare’s Law
To make a request under Clare’s Law please visit our website here
Support is available:
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
If you are in immediate danger always dial 999 and speak with a call handler.
If you are not able to talk when you need urgent police help, the Silent Solution service is available.
After dialling, listen to the questions from the call handler and respond by coughing or tapping your device, if you can. If prompted, press 55 to let the call handler know it is a genuine emergency and you will be connected to the police.
Help and support are available from other agencies, including Juno Women’s Aid, which provides a 24-hour domestic and sexual violence helpline for women, teenage girls and children on 0808 800 0340.
Alternatively, Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid provides an extensive range of services for women, young people and children on 01909 491 330.
For a free helpline for men who experience domestic abuse, call Equation on 0800 995 6999.
White Ribbon Day
The White Ribbon is a globally recognised symbol to highlight the impact of male violence against women and girls
The theme of this year’s White Ribbon initiative is ‘We Speak Up’ – which recognises the need to speak up to address the root causes of male violence against women: attitudes and behaviour learned over a long period of time.
The most effective way to speak up, however, remains to tell the police so officers can take action to end abusive relationships.
Ending abusive relationships
In recent years Nottinghamshire Police has adopted a bold and proactive approach to protecting victims from harm – even in cases where criminal charges cannot be secured.
These include:
- Proactive arrest and strict bail conditions – Officers are encouraged to arrest suspects, interview them under caution and put in place bail conditions that prevent further harm to victims. These can include restrictions on their movements, access to children and also prohibit any further contact through a third party.
- Domestic Violence Protection Orders – Civil court orders that can be granted within 48 hours of an officer issuing a temporary Domestic Violence Protection Notice. These are used to protect victims by prohibiting any form of contact by perpetrators.
- Non-Molestation Orders – Civil court orders that place restrictions on perpetrators, including not contacting or visiting their victims. Victims are supported by advocacy groups to apply for these.
- Evidence-Led Prosecutions – Where charges can be brought even when victims do not wish to give a statement or go to court.
- Stalking Protection Orders – Civil court orders that allow police to intervene early before cases have gone to court and/or behaviours escalate. Nineteen such orders are currently in place and the force was recently praised by the Home Office for its work in this area.
- Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) – Gives victims and/or people connected to them the ‘right to ask’ police for a disclosure about their partner. In some cases Nottinghamshire Police may proactively approach women where concerns exist about their partner. It is mandatory for Nottinghamshire Police officers to consider ‘right to know’ legislation in all cases of domestic assault. Disclosures are made only to partners
