PCC encouraged by “significant progress” to prevent domestic abuse through Clare’s Law disclosures in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards has welcomed the “significant progress” taken by the Constabulary to prevent domestic abuse using Clare’s Law.

He challenged the Chief Constable after a recent an inspector’s report called for the Constabulary to improve how they protect vulnerable people.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall has now reassured the Commissioner that applications for disclosing information under Clare’s Law have now more than doubled this year.

Clare's Law, launched in March 2014, was named after Clare Woods who was killed by her ex-partner in 2009.

The law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, provides a right to ask the police about any previous history of violence or abuse your partner might have. It also offers the "right to know," giving police and other agencies a duty to inform someone whose partner has previously committed violence which could pose a risk.

The recent PEEL inspection of Hertfordshire Constabulary found that it required improvement at protecting vulnerable people. The inspectors said that Constabulary needed to ensure it had the correct resources and oversight to make full and timely use of Clare’s Law.

The Commissioner challenged the Chief Constable Charlie Hall on the issue at his recent public Accountability and Performance Meeting.

The Commissioner asked: “At the point when the inspector looked at the numbers Hertfordshire Constabulary had the lowest figures in the country for disclosures. Can you give me an update on what work has been done to improve this?”

Mr Hall responded: “They identified that we needed to sharpen up our response and I am confident that we have done that. There has been a period of refocusing to ensure this area has got have appropriate attention and more resources have been going in to manage it.”

The report had found in the year ending September 2023, Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded 262 right to ask applications and 50 right to know applications.

The Chief Constable continued: “In comparison to the figures for last year in the report, this year since January we have recorded 567 right to ask applications, so they have more than doubled. As for the right to know applications this year, so far there have been 284, so that is a really significant step change in those numbers which underlines how much it has moved on.”

“Clearly these disclosures are important, particularly for people entering into a new relationship, who are seeking some reassurance about their new partner. We look to disclose those within 28 days, we weren’t as prompt as we needed to be but that has improved.

“I would still like to tighten this up and focus more resources, but we are in a fundamentally different position to where we were.”

Following the meeting Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said:

“Today is White Ribbon Day which challenges organisations to take positive action to prevent harmful cultures and behaviours which lead to violence against women and girls. Clare’s Law disclosures are designed to allow people to ask the police for information to understand if a partner or ex-partner may pose a risk to them.

“I was concerned about the low numbers of disclosures being made under Clare’s Law in Hertfordshire and wanted to hold the Chief Constable to account on the action being taken on the issue.

“I am very pleased to hear the significant progress being made to increase the numbers of disclosures. These and other protective powers play an important role in protecting people from harm and preventing violence against women and girls. My ambition is that Hertfordshire moves from one of the lowest users of these powers nationally to one of the highest users of these powers”.

Clare's Law gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if a partner may pose a risk to them.

Under Clare's Law you can:

• apply for information about your current or ex-partner because you're worried they may have a history of abuse and are a risk to you
• request information about the current or ex-partner of a friend or relative because you're worried they might be at risk

For more information about Clare's Law and how to make an application visit this page on the Hertfordshire Constabulary website.

The Accountability & Performance Meetings were introduced by the PCC to hold the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the Constabulary. Held monthly at Police Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City they are broadcast online for the public to view live.

Recordings of the meetings are available to watch back, along with dates of future meetings, at hertscommissioner.org/apm.