A shocking case of police bungling has emerged after a Wiltshire Police worker’s botched handling of Clare’s Law disclosures led to a woman being stabbed by her violent partner.
Police Worker Caught Cutting Corners
Gavin Hudson, 40, who managed Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) cases — aka Clare’s Law — was slammed for recklessness. An internal disciplinary panel ruled on 8 October that Hudson would have been fired for gross misconduct if he hadn’t quit first.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched a probe on 5 September 2023 after Wiltshire Police flagged ten Clare’s Law requests and three complaints spanning September 2023 to April 2024 for investigation.
Negligence with Deadly Results
Hudson’s slack work meant crucial police checks were missed. In some cases, he told people their partners had no red flags — without doing proper background checks.
- One woman’s 2022 Clare’s Law request revealed her partner’s violent past, including a Violent and Sexual Offender Register (ViSOR) warning.
- Hudson ignored this critical info. The man later stabbed her multiple times and was jailed for attempted murder.
- In another case, Hudson missed a domestic assault record on the Police National Computer and shut the case down.
- He also sent out “no further action” letters without getting supervisor sign-off.
The panel found Hudson guilty of breaching professional standards on honesty, work duties, and conduct. He will be blacklisted from any future policing jobs.
IOPC Demands Urgent Reforms
“Hudson ignored Home Office rules, putting women at risk,” said IOPC Director Derrick Campbell. “His failures led to further abuse. Victims told us they’d have left their partners if they’d known the truth. This has seriously undermined public trust in Wiltshire Police’s Clare’s Law process.”
The IOPC praised Wiltshire Police for reviewing over 3,000 DVDS cases after uncovering the scandal but warned other forces to tighten procedures and boost training. Investigators found Hudson rushed through mandatory online courses — some completed in seconds — casting doubt on his grasp of a vital role.
Hudson had worked in domestic abuse research since 2015, previously serving in the Control Room and Contact Centre.
Campbell urged all UK police forces to reinforce Clare’s Law responsibilities and improve training to stop dangerous partners slipping through the net.
Stay alert. Protect yourself and loved ones from domestic abuse dangers.
