A shocking case of police incompetence has come to light after a Wiltshire Police worker’s botched handling of Clare’s Law disclosures contributed to a woman being stabbed by her violent partner.
Officer’s Failings Exposed
Gavin Hudson, 40, who worked on the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) – better known as Clare’s Law – was caught cutting corners. An internal disciplinary panel ruled on 8 October that Hudson would have been fired for gross misconduct if he hadn’t already quit the force.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation on 5 September 2023 after Wiltshire Police referred ten Clare’s Law applications and three related complaints for scrutiny between September 2023 and April 2024.
Deadly Consequences of Negligence
Hudson’s sloppy work meant he often failed to properly check police records. In some instances, he wrongly told individuals there was no relevant information on their partners without doing the necessary checks.
- One woman’s Clare’s Law request in July 2022 exposed her partner’s violent history, including a Violent and Sexual Offender Register (ViSOR) warning marker.
- Hudson ignored this vital info. Later, the man stabbed her multiple times and was locked up for attempted murder.
- In another case, Hudson missed a man’s domestic assault record on the Police National Computer and closed the case without action.
- He also sent “no further action” letters without supervisor approval.
The panel found Hudson breached professional standards on honesty, work duties, and conduct. He will be placed on the police barred list, banning him from any future policing roles.
IOPC Calls for Urgent Reforms
“Hudson did not follow Home Office guidance, leaving women in danger,” said IOPC Director Derrick Campbell. “His failings had real consequences as some suffered further abuse. Victims told us they would have ended their relationships if they’d known the truth. This has seriously damaged public trust in Wiltshire Police’s Clare’s Law process.”
The IOPC praised Wiltshire Police for reviewing over 3,000 DVDS applications after uncovering the failures but warned other forces to tighten up procedures and training. Investigators also revealed Hudson rushed through compulsory online training courses — some in seconds — raising doubts he fully understood his critical role.
Hudson had been in the domestic abuse research role since 2015, previously working in the Control Room and Contact Centre.
Campbell appealed to all UK police forces to reinforce Clare’s Law duties and improve training to stop dangerous partners slipping through the cracks.
Protect yourself and loved ones — always stay alert to domestic abuse risks.
