Urgent review of Clare's Law applications
We’ve commissioned an urgent review into Clare’s Law disclosures handled by Wiltshire Police.
Earlier this year, we made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding concerns linked to disclosures made under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (known as Clare’s Law) by one member of Wiltshire Police staff.
That member of staff is currently suspended from the organisation.
The IOPC has determined that they will independently investigate these allegations and we are in consultation with them regarding a number of additional concerns we have subsequently identified.
We are now conducting an urgent audit of Clare’s Law applications made to us since April 2015.
The total number of applications made to us between April 2015 and the end of August 2023 is just over 3,500.
Of these 3,500 applications, information was disclosed in 1,195 cases under the Right to Ask process (where the individual makes the application regarding a current or ex-partner) or the Right to Know process (where the police or a partner agency comes across information indicating an individual is at risk of domestic abuse).
We have allocated dedicated resources to review every application made to us since April 2015.
Where we feel there is any risk to any individual, we will be attempting to contact the applicants.
You can get more information on Clare’s Law here.
Think you might be affected?
Yes — please answer question 2
No — if you would like more information on Clare’s Law, or to make application requesting information on a current or previous partner, click here.
Question 2
Are you in immediate danger?
Yes — If there is an immediate risk to your safety, please call 999 immediately.
No — please answer question 3
Question 3
Do you consider yourself to be at risk of domestic violence?
No — If your original application was submitted between April 2015 and August 2023, our dedicated team will be reviewing your application and will contact you if appropriate.
Yes — if you are at risk of immediate harm, please call 999 immediately. If you believe you are at risk from domestic violence, we need to urgently review your application. You can contact the team reviewing these applications directly by emailing [email protected].
Please include your full name, date of birth, address, place of birth, best method of contact, name of the person you were requesting information on and, if possible, the report reference number generated when you submitted your original application. All information sent to us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Contact the review team
We are urgently reviewing all Clare’s Law applications submitted between April 2015 and August 2023. Where we feel there is any risk to any individual, we will be attempting to contact the applicants.
If you believe this could be you, you can reach out directly to the team reviewing these applications by emailing [email protected].
Please include your full name, date of birth, address, place of birth, best method of contact, name of the person you were requesting information on and, if possible, the report reference number generated when you submitted your original application.
All information sent to us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Some questions you may have
What is the issue?
We’ve commissioned an urgent review into Clare’s Law disclosures handled by Wiltshire Police. This follows a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding concerns linked to disclosures made under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (known as Clare’s Law) by one member of Wiltshire Police staff. They are currently suspended from the organisation.
As a result, we are reviewing all Clare’s Law applications submitted to us from April 2015 to August 2023.
How does that affect me?
Where we feel there is any risk to any individual who submitted a Clare’s Law application between April 2015 and August 2023, we will be attempting to contact them.
What are Wiltshire Police doing about it?
We are urgently reviewing all Clare’s Law applications submitted to us from April 2015 to August 2023. We have allocated dedicated resources to this review process and, where we feel there is any risk to any individual, we will be attempting to contact the applicants.
Do I need to do anything?
Anyone who is in immediate danger or under the threat of violence, should contact us immediately on 999.
If you submitted a Clare’s Law application between April 2015 and August 2023, you might be contacted by the review team.
If you believe this could include you, you can reach out directly to the team reviewing these applications by emailing [email protected]. Please include your full name, date of birth, address, place of birth, best method of contact, name of the person you were requesting information on and, if possible, the report reference number generated when you submitted your original application. All information sent to us will be treated in the strictest confidence.