THE criminal records of a quarter of all people whose partners have suspected domestic violence in their past have been released under Clare’s Law in Wiltshire since the force piloted the scheme.

The scheme was trialled in Wiltshire in July 2011 after 36-year-old Clare Wood, of Salford, was murdered in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend, prompting demands for partners to be able to apply for details of their other half’s past if it involved domestic violence.

Since then, 274 people in the county have applied to the scheme, 74 of whom were accepted and given details of their partner’s history.

Applications for information to be released under Clare’s Law are refused if the force does not hold any information, if the criminal record does not include convictions for domestic violence, or is not deemed relevant by the force.

The ‘accepted’ figures include those who applied under ‘right to ask’, and those approached by police under ‘right to know’.

In the period up to March last year, a total of 265 domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs), which prevent perpetrators from making contact with the victim for 28 days, have been applied for in court, with 225 granted.

The revelation comes after the number of incidents of domestic violence rose by almost 20 per cent during 2014, from 2,990 cases the previous year to 3,553, which the force attributes to better recording practice and use of the scheme itself.

Caroline Evely, head of public protection at Wiltshire Police, worked on implementing the scheme in Wiltshire.

“For the police this is one of the most complex issues we have to deal with,” she said.

“It is a hidden crime, but if people see positive results they will be more likely to come forward.

“Before, we would have arrested someone, but because it happens behind closed doors we had no option but to release the perpetrator with no prosecution.

“It is difficult for people who are in a long-term relationship and been degraded and their self-esteem destroyed.

“A lot of people do not even realise they are in a domestic violence situation, so there is a lot of education that needs to be done.

“If the person is at risk of violence then we have to act. It is a constant balance between the perpetrator’s right to privacy and the victim’s right to life.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “It’s important that the police have all the right tools at their disposal to respond to perpetrators of domestic violence, but what’s even more important is that they use them appropriately.

“Any woman asking for a disclosure under Clare’s Law is clearly already concerned about her relationship, and should be referred to a specialist service so she can get support with her concerns, even if no disclosure can be made.’’