Clare's Law

Clare’s Law

Understanding the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

Clare’s Law, formally known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, provides a way for people to ask police about a current or former partner’s history of abusive behaviour.

This resource explains both the Right to Ask and Right to Know, who can make a request, what happens after an application and why a disclosure is not the same as receiving somebody’s complete criminal record.

It also explores confidentiality, third-party applications and what it means if police have no information they are able to disclose.

It includes:

• What Clare’s Law is
• The Right to Ask and Right to Know
• Who can apply
• Third-party applications
• How to make a request
• What police may disclose
• Confidentiality
• What a non-disclosure does and does not mean
• Using information safely
• Related support options

Designed to make the disclosure process easier to understand without creating a false sense of either safety or danger.

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