650% increase in use of Clare's Law in Leeds
Clare's Law let's people know if their partner has an abusive past, by requesting the information from the police
The use of Clare's Law, which lets people know if their partner has any previous history of abused has increased, in Leeds.
West Yorkshire Police saw less than 20 requests under Clare's Law per month, prior to October 2023. Whereas now, the force see over 100 applications each month.
It's hoped more awareness will help prevent more people becoming a victim of domestic abuse.
Leeds Domestic Violence Service has launched an Abuse Voices project. It's where survivors meet with police and tell them their experiences of domestic abuse.
Fran Murphy fled an abusive relationship on Boxing Day in 2021. She has told us of her disappointment she wasn't aware of Clare's Law.
Fran told us: "I didn't know about it and I didn't know that I was able to access it, I didn't know that I probably should have been offered it by numerous different services.
"And that's disappointing for me. I've been asked what difference would it make if I had of been offered Clare's Law and I can't honestly answer that as I wasn't given that opportunity."
She wants to help raise more awareness of Clare's Law and has advice to someone wondering if they should apply for this. She said: "If you are uncertain at all, please, please, please contact the police to ask if they can show them a Clare's Law.
"Often we ignore signs which something doesn't seem right. Which if something doesn't seem right. More often than not it isn't."
Nicola Marlow is the Domestic Abusive and Voices Project Manager in Leeds. Talking of the impact Clare's Law can have, she said: "Where I have spoken to victim survivors where disclosers were made, it was a game changer for them.
"They realised they weren't the only victim of that perpetrator and it gave them that opportunity to plan and make decisions of how they could escape the relationship."
Nicola has praised the police for working with them, to listen to survivors stories.