Clare's Law
Posted: 24 January 2012
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke backs Clare’s Law plan
Hazel Blears launched the Respect & Protect: Clare’s Law campaign in Parliament last year calling for a change in the law to protect those at risk of domestic violence.
Fabulous magazine’s Respect and Protect campaign has joined forces with Key 103 radio’s Clare’s Law campaign and Hazel Blears MP to form the ‘Respect and Protect: Clare’s Law’ campaign which calls for the government to change the law to give men and women the right to know if their partner is a serial perpetrator of domestic abuse.
Commenting on the launch, Ms Blears said:
“It was heartening to see MPs from all parties and more importantly people like Michael who have seen lives ruined by serial perpetrators of domestic violence come together to call on the government to act.”
“The Respect & Protect: Clare’s Law campaign calls for a small change in the law that can empower men and women to protect themselves from abuse.”
“Two women a week are killed by violent partners or ex-partners – that’s two too many. We’ve got twelve days to make a difference.”
“Fabulous magazine and Key 103 radio have been collecting signatures to show the Home Secretary how many people support the Respect and Protect: Clare’s Law campaign. By adding their names to the petition men and women can show their commitment to standing up against serial perpetrators of domestic violence and I urge people to sign the petition to save lives.”
Joely Carey, Editorial Director of Fabulous magazine, said: “Fabulous magazine surveyed 1000 women and 91 per cent of them backed the idea of introducing a woman’s right to know of a man’s violent past. 84 per cent believe lives would be saved and 77 per cent of them would leave a realtionship if they discovered he had a history of violence towards women.”
“This campaign is workable and makes complete sense. Women should know if they are living with a man who has a history of violence against women.”
“That knowledge could empower them to make different choice about whether to stay in that relationship. There is no doubt this campaign will save women’s lives.”
The event in Parliament was attended by MPs from all parties including Alan Johnson, Claire Perry and Dr Julian Lewis, and Michael Brown, the father of Clare Wood.
Victims Commissioner Louise Casey spoke in favour of changing the law and representatives from ACPO explained why they proposed the introduction of a right to know.
More information can be found in the submission made by Hazel Blears MP to the Government consultation – Clare’s Law submission
