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The law which will allow police to disclose details as to whether an individual has a history of violence known as “Clare’s Law’ is to be introduced in Aberdeen and Ayrshire.
The law is named after Clare Wood, a 36 year old women who was strangled to death and then set on fire by her former partner in 2009. Her ex-partner had a violent pat of which she had no clue, this included him kidnapping another ex-partner of his at knife-point.
The project is to run for six months, beginning in late November, and if thought to be successful it will be put to the entire country next year.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
“It is only right that people in relationships should have the opportunity to seek the facts about their partner’s background if, for example, they suspect their partner has a history of violent behaviour.”
It has been Clare’s father, a former policeman himself who has since campaigned for the legislation to be introduced. He said;
“I thought it was an absolute disgrace that my daughter could not be told about her partner’s past. It then choked me to my core to learn that somewhere between 100 and 120 girls every year die in the same way as my daughter. For every one of these victims, there are at least two people – a mother and a father – who are suffering.And that is just for starters. The death is just the start, like a stone going into a pond. The suffering goes on and on.Anything that gives men and women another layer of protection from a potentially abusive partner has got to be welcome.”
The new law gives police discretion to decide what will be disclosed on a case by case basis, however they are able to give details of conduct and charges even if the individual has not been convicted.
If you require specialist criminal defence advice on this or any other matter, give us a call on 01383 730466 (Dunfermline) or 01592 640680 (Kirkcaldy) or contact us online here.
