Reducing domestic violence and Clare's Law

The passage of Clare's Law has resulted in more than 300 women in Greater Manchester being warned that their partners have histories of abusing others in the past. This law was implemented after a woman named Clare was strangled and killed by her ex-boyfriend, a man that she met on Facebook.

Clare, the woman who was murdered, had no idea that her boyfriend had a history of violence against women, including kidnapping one girlfriend with a knife. After he killed Clare, the man then committed suicide. The law allows women to apply to see if their new partners have any history of domestic violence.

Since the law came into effect, 801 women have sought information under it. Of those applications, 321 resulted in women being told about their partners' domestic abuse histories. In addition to partners, their families are also able to make applications for information under the law's right to ask policy. Police officials believe that the law will help prevent many incidents of domestic violence in the future, and they encourage women to use it when they are thinking about starting a new relationship with someone.

Domestic assault is one of the more dangerous family law problems that people encounter in their relationships. When a person suffers from this type of abuse, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Failing to act can lead to an escalation in the violence. People who are being abused may want to seek help from the police as well as from a family law solicitor. By doing so, they may be able to reach safety and to prevent the abusive person from being able to contact them. Using Clare's Law to request information prior to getting involved in a relationship may help to prevent such issues from occurring in the first place.