Loved ones to be able to check on new partner's criminal history
People at risk of domestic abuse should be able to ask police if their partner has a violent criminal history, Victoria’s Liberal-National opposition says.
It’s proposing a so-called Family Violence Disclosure Scheme that would allow someone to apply to find out whether their current or former partner has past convictions involving personal violence or breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders.
Concerned friends or relatives could also apply for the information, under the proposed plan.
The opposition on Monday pledged to introduce the scheme, based on a similar model in the UK, if it wins the November state election.
“This plan will save lives and protect many, many people, particularly women,” Opposition leader Matthew Guy said in a statement.
“We want to make sure people at risk of family violence aren’t kept in the dark, which is why we will give Victorians the right to ask and the right to know about any history of violent criminal offences of a current or former partner.”
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The scheme would be trialled across six “at risk” local government areas – Casey, Greater Geelong, Whittlesea, Hume, Frankston and Wyndham.
The idea was previously raised by Victoria Police in a submission to the state’s family violence royal commission.
The UK scheme is known as “Clare’s law”, which was brought in after the 2009 murder of 36-year-old Clare Wood by her ex-boyfriend.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme has been piloted in four NSW regions of Oxley, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, and St George, as one of the state government’s strategies to help reduce domestic violence.
“It is not a register or a list, rather a way to seek information about a person’s proven violent offending history to help reduce the risk of domestic violence in the community,” according to the NSW Family and Corrective Services.
If you or someone you know is suffering from sexual or domestic abuse, don’t suffer in silence, call the National sexual assault helpline 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 any time of day or night; or the Victorian sexual assault crisis line: 1800 806 292.
