Applies in the UK only
Clare’s Law — formally known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme — gives you the legal right to ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of abusive or violent behaviour. Police also have the power to share that information proactively, without a request, if they believe you may be at risk.
The scheme came into force in 2014 following the murder of Clare Wood by a partner whose violent history was unknown to her. It exists so that people can make informed decisions about their own safety.
Who Can Make a Request
Anyone can make a Clare’s Law request. You do not need to have experienced abuse yourself. You do not need to have reported anything to police previously. Friends or family members concerned about someone they care about can also apply on that person’s behalf.
How to Make a Request
Call 101 — the non-emergency police number — and ask to make a Clare’s Law request, also known as a Right to Ask application. You can also apply in person at a police station if you prefer.
Have some basic identification ready for yourself. You will also need enough details to identify the person you are asking about — their name, date of birth if you know it, and ideally an address or other identifying information.
What Happens Next
The process involves several steps. It is not a simple database check. Most requests take a few weeks to complete, though timings vary.
Officers first gather information about the person you have asked about. They check police records, the Police National Computer and any local intelligence held about that individual. Where the person lives in a different police area, forces liaise with each other as part of the process.
Your request then goes to a multi-agency panel for review. The panel typically includes police and may involve other agencies — social services or probation, for example — depending on the circumstances. They consider what information exists, what disclosing it would mean for your safety, and what the right course of action is.
They May Ask You Questions
As part of the process, officers may want to speak with you further. They may ask about your relationship, how long you have been together, whether you have noticed concerning behaviour, and how safe you currently feel.
You do not have to answer anything you are uncomfortable with. However, the more context you can provide, the better placed the panel is to make a decision that reflects your situation accurately. If you mention or suggest that abuse has already occurred, officers have a duty to take that seriously. At that point the conversation may also shift towards your immediate safety and the support available to you.
What the Panel May Decide
The panel has several options. They may disclose information — sharing details of previous convictions, cautions or intelligence relevant to your safety. They may decide disclosure is not appropriate in the circumstances. Alternatively, where risk feels immediate and significant, they may act proactively without waiting for a full panel process.
A decision not to disclose does not automatically mean no information exists. The panel weighs up multiple factors, including the rights of the person you have asked about. Sometimes they conclude that disclosure would not be appropriate or safe in that particular situation. Even then, officers should signpost you towards support.
The Process Is Confidential
Your request is confidential throughout. The person you are asking about will not know you have made a request.
If you have concerns about that person’s reaction to you making enquiries, tell the officer handling your case. They can factor your safety into how they manage the process and any follow-up contact with you.
If Abuse Has Already Happened
If you have already experienced behaviour that feels abusive — controlling, threatening, violent or frightening — mention this when you make your request. Doing so does not commit you to making a formal report or taking further action.
It does, however, allow police to consider your immediate safety alongside the disclosure process. They may offer you a risk assessment or additional support at the same time. Your safety drives the whole process — and Clare’s Law works best as part of a broader conversation about keeping you protected, not as a standalone procedure.
