The numbers of women asking police if their partner has a history of domestic violence has more than doubled in the last three years. The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland – also known as Clare’s Law – allows both males and females to find out if a new or existing partner has an abusive past, called Right to Ask.
Figures released by Police Scotland show that 7892 applications were made for information about the scheme last year compared to 5303 in 2023. While the numbers making Right to Ask applications rose from 1627 to 3267 in the same period – an increase of more than 100 percent.
One woman Jenna used the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse when she had concerns about her new partner’s violent and controlling behaviour. After submitting her “Right to Ask” application online she was contacted by Police Scotland officers and told her partner had previous offences for domestic abuse and that her life was at risk.
As a result she ended the relationship. Jenna said: “I met him through a friend and everything was great at first.
“He was charming and would do thoughtful things for me. But a few months into the relationship he changed.”
She added: “He started to call me names. He started to get physical with me
“There would be bouts of aggression. He would grab my arm and try to strangle me and hit me.
“If I hadn’t got the disclosure I d be living in a hell of verbal, emotional and physical abuse. The scheme saved me.”
The majority of applications for information about the disclosure scheme last year involved women ‘potentially at risk’, rising from 4445 in 2023 to 6462 – an increase of almost 50 percent. While the number of applications where a man was ‘potentially at risk’ rose from 455 to 684 in the same period.
View 4 ImagesMarsha Scott, Chief Executive at Scottish Women’s Aid(Image: Freelance)
People who apply for information on the disclosure scheme currently wait an average of nine days for a response compared to 17 in 2023. Dr Marsha Scott, CEO Scottish Women’s Aid, said: ’We should be cautious about reading too much into the numbers alone.
“They don’t tell us whether more men are perpetrating domestic abuse or whether more women are aware of the scheme. What they do tell us is that too many women continue to have good reason to question whether they are safe.
“We cannot continue to place the burden on women to identify and manage the risk posed by abusive men.”
Dawn Brennan CEO of Glasgow safety charity Wise Women said: “We are pleased that women are engaging with Clare’s Law in increasing numbers. It is another tool that women can use to mitigate against the violence and abuse perpetrated by men in their lives.”
View 4 ImagesDawn Brennan, CEO of Wise Women
Carol Eden, Head of Communications and External Affairs at Victim Support Scotland, said: “It is essential that people know where to go if they have concerns about a partner’s behaviour, so it is positive that more people are aware of and are accessing the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse.
“The rise in the number of people asking for information mirrors a worrying increase in domestic abuse. Accessing this information ensures people are informed, allowing them to take control and consider how best to deal with a potentially dangerous situation.
“We welcome reports that waiting times for receiving this information have dropped considerably in the last two years.”
Clare’s Law also enables anyone with concerns about the partner of someone they know, to apply for a disclosure. The scheme was launched in October 2015 and in the first ten years 19,867 disclosures were made about violent partners.
Clare’s Law was named after mum Clare Wood, 36, who was murdered and set on fire in Salford in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton who had a history of violence against women. Clare’s dad Michael Brown, who is originally from Aberdeen, campaigned to allow people to check with police whether their partner had a record of abusive behaviour.
View 4 ImagesMichael Brown, father of murdered Clare Wood(Image: PA)
Police Scotland recorded 64,967 incidents of domestic abuse in 2024-25, an increase of two percent compared to the previous year. Detective Superintendent Adam Brown said: “The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse continues to be a good example of preventative work we do in tackling domestic abuse.
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“We know from working in partnership with survivor groups that this crime remains vastly under-reported. Tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls is a priority for Police Scotland.
“We remain absolutely committed to continually improving our response and working closely with others to achieve this and recognise the importance and need to listen to, and act on, survivor feedback.”
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