ACPO comment on domestic violence disclosure scheme consultation

ACPO lead on violence and public protection Chief Constable Brian Moore said:

"A key part of policing is to protect people from harm. The proposal for a "right to know" is just one of a series of recommendations that have been made to protect women in domestic situations from harm.

"As part of the review looking at serial perpetrators of domestic abuse we surveyed forces across the country and were able to extrapolate that around 25,000 offenders of domestic violence had abused two or more different victims with violence or threats of violence in a three year period. Of those 2,500 had abused three or more victims and one force had an offender who had committed violence against eight different victims.

"People should enjoy seamless safety and at all times be protected and a right to know would empower women to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their children when getting involved with a new partner.

“We are pleased that the Home Office has decided to undertake a public consultation on this issue. As a starting point we think people should have the right to know. We want to stop women from being victims in the first place.”

The Home Office consultation can be accessed here: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/consultations/

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk