Applications by women using Clare's Law to check if their partner has a history of domestic violence have more than doubled in three years, according to Police Scotland figures. The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland, known as Clare's Law, allows individuals to request information about a partner's abusive past through the 'Right to Ask' process.
Surge in Applications
Police Scotland received 7,892 applications for information about the scheme in 2025, compared to 5,303 in 2023. Right to Ask applications rose from 1,627 to 3,267 over the same period, an increase of over 100 percent. The majority of applications involved women 'potentially at risk', rising from 4,445 in 2023 to 6,462 in 2025, an increase of almost 50 percent. Applications where a man was 'potentially at risk' rose from 455 to 684.
Personal Impact
One woman, Jenna, used the scheme when she had concerns about her new partner's violent and controlling behaviour. After submitting a Right to Ask application online, police told her he had previous domestic abuse offences and that her life was at risk. She ended the relationship. Jenna said: 'I met him through a friend and everything was great at first. He was charming and would do thoughtful things for me. But a few months into the relationship he changed. He started to call me names. He started to get physical with me. There would be bouts of aggression. He would grab my arm and try to strangle me and hit me. If I hadn't got the disclosure I'd be living in a hell of verbal, emotional and physical abuse. The scheme saved me.'
Expert Perspectives
Dr Marsha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women's Aid, said: 'We should be cautious about reading too much into the numbers alone. They don't tell us whether more men are perpetrating domestic abuse or whether more women are aware of the scheme. What they do tell us is that too many women continue to have good reason to question whether they are safe. We cannot continue to place the burden on women to identify and manage the risk posed by abusive men.' Dawn Brennan, CEO of Glasgow safety charity Wise Women, said: 'We are pleased that women are engaging with Clare's Law in increasing numbers. It is another tool that women can use to mitigate against the violence and abuse perpetrated by men in their lives.'
Reduced Waiting Times
People applying for information now wait an average of nine days for a response, down from 17 days in 2023. Carol Eden, Head of Communications and External Affairs at Victim Support Scotland, said: 'It is essential that people know where to go if they have concerns about a partner's behaviour, so it is positive that more people are aware of and are accessing the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse. The rise in the number of people asking for information mirrors a worrying increase in domestic abuse. Accessing this information ensures people are informed, allowing them to take control and consider how best to deal with a potentially dangerous situation. We welcome reports that waiting times for receiving this information have dropped considerably in the last two years.'
Background and Statistics
Clare's Law also enables anyone with concerns about the partner of someone they know to apply for a disclosure. The scheme was launched in October 2015 and in the first ten years, 19,867 disclosures were made about violent partners. It was named after Clare Wood, 36, who was murdered and set on fire in Salford in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton, who had a history of violence against women. Clare's father Michael Brown, originally from Aberdeen, campaigned for the right to check a partner's record. Police Scotland recorded 64,967 incidents of domestic abuse in 2024-25, an increase of two percent compared to the previous year. Detective Superintendent Adam Brown said: 'The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse continues to be a good example of preventative work we do in tackling domestic abuse. We know from working in partnership with survivor groups that this crime remains vastly under-reported. Tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls is a priority for Police Scotland. We remain absolutely committed to continually improving our response and working closely with others to achieve this and recognise the importance and need to listen to, and act on, survivor feedback.'
