Burrows call for Clare’s Law awareness campaign as many remain unaware of potentially life-saving scheme
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 18
- 6 min read
Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows
Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change.
Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme (DVADS) – alongside key sources of support for victims of domestic abuse.
The scheme, which has operated in Northern Ireland since 26 March 2016, allows anyone aged 16 or over to ask the PSNI whether a current or former partner, or the partner of someone they care about, has a known history of domestic abuse or behaviour that could indicate they pose a risk.
Burrows argues that, despite the scheme having been available for almost a decade, too few people know it exists.
Campaign aims to increase awareness
Domestic abuse often follows repeated patterns of coercive or controlling behaviour, and perpetrators may go on to abuse multiple partners. Clare’s Law is designed to help people identify potential risks before abuse escalates, allowing them to make more informed decisions about their safety.
Burrows said the scale of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland demanded a stronger focus on prevention as well as enforcement.
He said:
“Since 2020, 31 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland. That is a stain on our society and it demands a radical rethink of how we tackle violence against women and girls.
“We have seen the tremendous success of public awareness campaigns such as DfI’s anti-speeding and drink-driving advertisements. There is no reason the same approach cannot be applied to saving lives from domestic abuse.”
He believes a public information campaign could ensure more people know about Clare’s Law before they find themselves in danger.
Burrows added:
“Clare’s Law, known formally as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme, gives people the right to ask the PSNI whether a partner, or the partner of someone they care about, has an abusive past. It is potentially life-saving, but too few people know it exists. Domestic abusers frequently move on to new relationships and new victims.
“Today I have written to The Executive Office and the Department of Justice urging them to launch a comparable awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law, alongside the contact details of support organisations for victims of abuse.
“This is an area in which we can all work together. Women and girls deserve better.”
Why is it called Clare’s Law?
The scheme is named after Clare Wood, a 36-year-old woman from Salford, England who was murdered in 2009 by her former partner.
Unknown to Clare, he had a documented history of violence against women.
Following her death, Clare’s father, Michael Brown, successfully campaigned for a system allowing police to disclose relevant information about a person’s history of abusive behaviour where doing so could help protect a potential victim.
That campaign led to domestic violence disclosure schemes being introduced across the UK, with Northern Ireland launching its own version in 2016.
How does Clare’s Law work?
The scheme operates in two ways.
• Right to Ask
Anyone aged 16 or over can apply if they are concerned about:
their current partner;
a former partner; or
the partner of a friend or family member.
Applications can also be made by professionals acting to protect someone they believe may be at risk.
• Power to Tell
The PSNI does not have to wait for someone to make an application.
If officers become aware through policing or other information that someone may be at risk of domestic abuse, they can proactively consider whether relevant information should be disclosed to help protect that person.
• What information can be disclosed?
Clare’s Law does not give someone access to another person’s full criminal record.
Instead, the PSNI considers whether information relating to domestic abuse, violent behaviour or other relevant police information should be disclosed because it is necessary to help protect someone from harm.
A disclosure does not necessarily mean someone has been convicted of a criminal offence. Police may also consider other relevant information where they believe disclosure is lawful, necessary and proportionate to protect a potential victim.
Not every application results in information being disclosed. The PSNI must carefully balance an individual’s right to privacy against the need to protect someone from harm before deciding whether information can legally be shared.
Where a disclosure is made, it is usually provided during a confidential meeting with the person considered to be at risk, rather than by email or letter.
• What is coercive or controlling behaviour?
Domestic abuse is not always physical.
Coercive or controlling behaviour can include isolating someone from family and friends, controlling money, monitoring where they go or who they speak to, repeatedly intimidating or threatening them, or making them fear the consequences of disobeying their partner.
These behaviours can become more serious over time and are recognised as forms of domestic abuse.
How to make a Clare’s Law application in Northern Ireland
If you are worried about your own partner, or someone else’s partner, you can apply through the PSNI’s Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme.
• Step 1 — Find out more
Learn how the scheme works and who can apply:
PSNI Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme
• Step 2 — Make an application
Complete the PSNI’s online application form:
• Step 3 — What happens next?
After receiving an application, the PSNI will normally:
contact you to discuss your concerns;
verify your identity;
carry out police and safeguarding checks;
assess whether a disclosure is lawful, necessary and proportionate; and
where appropriate, arrange a confidential meeting to share relevant information with the person considered to be at risk.
Important to know
Applicants must be 16 or over.
The person considered to be at risk must live in Northern Ireland.
The scheme is confidential.
Clare’s Law does not provide someone with another person’s full criminal record.
It is not a way to report an emergency. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Non-emergency concerns can be reported to the PSNI by calling 101.
Frequently asked questions
• Can I ask about my boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse?
Yes. If you are concerned about your current or former partner, you can apply under Clare’s Law.
• Can I ask about someone else’s partner?
Yes. Friends, relatives and family members can also raise concerns if they believe someone they know may be at risk.
• Will the PSNI tell me everything they know?
No. Police will only disclose information they believe is necessary and proportionate to protect someone from harm.
• Does someone have to have a criminal conviction before information can be shared?
No. The PSNI may also consider other relevant information where disclosure is lawful and necessary to safeguard a potential victim.
• Can I apply online?
Yes. Applications can be made through the PSNI’s online Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme application form.
• How long does it take?
There is no fixed timescale. Each application is assessed individually, depending on the circumstances and the safeguarding enquiries required.
For most people, Clare’s Law is something they hope they will never need. But knowing it exists — and understanding how it works — could provide vital information before entering or remaining in a relationship that puts someone at risk. Jon Burrows’ call for a public awareness campaign seeks to ensure more people across Northern Ireland know that option is available.
Support is available
Anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or worried about someone else’s safety, does not have to face it alone. Confidential advice and support are available across Northern Ireland through a range of specialist organisations.
The 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline is free, confidential and available to both women and men 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It can also provide advice to friends and family members concerned about someone they know. Call 0808 802 1414, email help@dsahelpline.org, or access live webchat via the DSA Helpline website.
Local support is also available through Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, while the Men’s Advisory Project provides specialist support for male victims of domestic abuse. Victim Support NI can offer emotional and practical support to anyone affected by crime, including domestic abuse.
