ESSEX Police are marking 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Abuse awareness by sharing examples of the work that is ongoing within their force to protect victims and bring abusers to justice, while raising awareness about abuse.

Today, Wednesday 27 November, Harlow’s Domestic Abuse Investigations Team have teamed up with members of the Harlow Domestic Abuse Forum that is led by Harlow Council to raise awareness about Clare’s Law within the town centre.

Officers in partnership with council officials handed 70 leaflets to businesses and helped inform them about the domestic violence disclosure scheme.

By agreeing to put posters up within their buildings, these companies are also doing their part in helping to create safer communities.

The awareness day followed a day of action on Wednesday 26 June, where 50 other Clare’s Law leaflets were handed out across Harlow town centre.

Detective Inspector Richard Trower, who leads Harlow DAIT, said: “Today’s initiative has allowed us to reach even more people, helping to raise vital awareness about Clare’s Law.

“We have now given guidance to over 100 businesses who agreed to help their community by displaying information about the disclosure scheme.

“The scheme enables people to know whether their partner or former partner has a record of violence, helping to keep them and their families safe.

“Remember, anyone can apply for a disclosure – be it worried relative or colleague to someone who has just started dating someone and has their concerns.

“I would like to thank Harlow Council for working in partnership with us by raising this awareness.”

Brian Keane, Chief Executive of Harlow Council and Chair of the Safer Harlow Partnership (seen below with PCSO Sharon Macdonald), said: “Raising awareness of this potentially life-saving scheme is so important – the more people who might otherwise become victims of domestic abuse that we can reach, the better.

“By giving people information on the options available to them if they have concerns about a partner, their own or someone else’s partner, I hope that we can work together to reduce domestic abuse cases here in Harlow and beyond.”

Clare’s Law allows people who think they have a violent partner or former partner to request information about them.
In other situations, we have the right to disclose information to victims through the scheme.

Just last week the scheme was used successfully after a teenager made an application under Clare’s Law and we are now investigating a man for breaching a court order.