If you discover that someone has a criminal conviction for domestic violence, take it seriously. Don’t allow anyone to minimise it or explain it away with familiar phrases such as: “She made it up.” “She’s unstable.” “She’s bitter.” “She’s only after money.” “It was just a messy divorce.” “There are two sides to every story.”… Read More Never Ignore a History of Domestic Violence
Beginning a new relationship should be exciting, but it is also important to protect yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. You have every right to ask questions, take things slowly, and make informed decisions about your safety. Many people don’t realise that in some countries there are official schemes that allow you… Read More Starting a New Relationship? Here’s How You Can Check if Your New Partner Has a History of Domestic Abuse
My former husband may believe that when the restraining order ends, everything simply disappears. That the years of abuse, the criminal proceedings, the evidence, and the impact on my life can somehow be swept under the carpet, just as he and his family have always tried to do by presenting a very different picture to… Read More The End of a Restraining Order Is Not the End of the Story
One of the greatest sources of reassurance for me is knowing that my case is recorded within Spain’s VioGén system. The evidence I have provided—including statements, photographs, reports and other relevant information—forms part of the case information available to the authorities responsible for protecting victims of gender-based violence. This means that, if I ever need… Read More Why VioGén Gives Me Peace of Mind
it’s worth explaining that VioGén is far more than a police database. It is one of the world’s most comprehensive multi-agency risk assessment and victim protection systems, designed to ensure that victims do not “fall through the cracks” as they move through the criminal justice system. How VioGén Works When an incident of gender-based violence is reported—whether… Read More How VioGén Works
Country Disclosure Scheme Public Statistics Available England & Wales ✅ Clare’s Law (2014) Yes – annual national statistics published. Scotland ✅ Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (2015) Yes – Police Scotland publishes application and disclosure figures. Northern Ireland ✅ Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme (2018) Limited public statistics. Republic of Ireland ❌ No… Read More Within Europe, the position is:
Here’s a comparison of the main domestic violence disclosure schemes currently operating internationally. Because each country records data differently, direct comparisons should be interpreted with caution. Country Scheme Latest Available Statistics England & Wales Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) 2023–24: 19,934 Right to Know applications (9,057 disclosures – 45%); 38,678 Right to Ask applications (15,448 disclosures… Read More Understanding Domestic Violence Disclosure Statistics by Country
There are no global figures for Clare’s Law (the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme), because it is not an international programme. The scheme originated in England and Wales and has since been adopted in different forms in Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, but there is no worldwide databasecollecting comparable statistics. Each jurisdiction publishes data independently, if… Read More The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme)
The police already maintain a number of databases which will hold details of domestic abuse perpetrators, for example the Police National Computer, Police National Database and the ViSOR Dangerous Persons Database. The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have jointly funded a project to create the new Multi-Agency Public Protection System (MAPPS) which will… Read More National “register” of domestic abuse perpetrators
When you’ve been living with prolonged stress, trauma, or abuse, constant exhaustion isn’t because you’re weak—it’s because your brain and body have been working overtime for months or even years. Here’s what is happening in the brain and nervous system: 1. Your Brain Is Constantly Scanning for Danger constantly transmit signals through brain networks involved in… Read More Your Brain Is Constantly Scanning for Danger
