Nottinghamshire Police to pilot ‘Clare’s Law’ scheme to prevent domestic abuse

*Nottinghamshire Police will be one of the first forces in the country to pilot a scheme to prevent domestic abuse. *

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as 'Clare's Law' will give people the right to know about a partner’s violent past.

Campaigners asked the Government to introduce the scheme following the murder of 36-year-old Salford mum Clare Wood, who was murdered by her estranged partner in 2009.

She suffered months of sexual abuse and death threats before being strangled by George Appleton, who had a history of violence against women.

In Nottinghamshire there have also been a number of tragic deaths over the last few years that were the result of domestic violence.

21-year-old Casey Brittle was beaten to death by her ex-partner in front of her two-year-old daughter in New Basford in 2010.

She called the police eleven times about the violence she suffered, but officers weren't able to stop what happened to her.

Sanchez Williams carried out his final attack on Casey after two years of abuse.

An IPCC report found that Nottinghamshire Police had failed to properly protect the young woman.

Denise Skilbeckwas a 31-year-old Employment Advisor - killed by her partner almost a year ago.

Gary Spalding stabbed her 16 times and then battered her to death with a hammer at the flat they shared at Dobson's Quay in Newark.

Superintendent Helen Chamberlain, Head of Nottinghamshire Police force’s Public Protection Department, said:

“The force has received justified criticism about how it has dealt with domestic abuse in the past.

“We are absolutely determined not to make the same mistakes again and we are committed to using every tactic available to us to protect anyone in an abusive relationship.

“There may be many people out there who are unaware that their new partner has a violent past.

“A violent or abusive person might wait months or even years to show their true colours, and by the time it happens the victim is often too frightened to speak out.

“The scheme will empower the police and potential victims to take early action in preventing violence.”

Three other forces - Gwent, Greater Manchester and Wiltshire - will also take part in the trial, which will last a year.