An urgent review has been initiated into Clare’s Law disclosures handled by Wiltshire Police after concerns were raised regarding disclosures made under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (commonly known as Clare’s Law) by one member of the police staff. This move comes following a voluntary referral earlier this year to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding these concerns.
The police staff member in question has been served with a notice of investigation by the IOPC and is currently suspended from the force. The IOPC has decided to independently investigate these allegations, and further consultations are underway concerning additional concerns that have come to light.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper expressed regret for the failures in disclosing information that could have protected individuals at risk from domestic violence, stating, “For this, I am truly sorry.”
To fully comprehend the extent of these failures and cooperate with the independent IOPC investigation, an urgent audit of Clare’s Law applications made to Wiltshire Police since April 2015 has been initiated. The member of staff under investigation began working in this department in April 2015.
The review covers over 3,500 applications made between April 2015 and the end of August 2023. Out of these applications, information was disclosed in 1,195 cases under the Right to Ask process (where the individual applies regarding a current or former 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).
Dedicated resources have been allocated to review each application made since April 2015. If any risk is identified to an individual during this process, the police will make efforts to contact the applicants.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper emphasized the commitment to address the identified failure and urged the community to continue to engage with the police regarding concerns or information about individuals at risk of domestic abuse.
In conclusion, Chief Constable Roper extended an apology on behalf of the organization to anyone who may have been let down by the service. She urged individuals who made Clare’s Law or DVDS applications to Wiltshire Police between April 2015 and August 2023 and have concerns about the service they received to contact the police directly at [email protected]. Immediate danger situations should be reported by calling 999. New applications under Clare’s Law are still being processed with added resources and scrutiny to ensure the service is delivered effectively.
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