A SCHEME that allows individuals to discover if their partner has a history of violence has been welcomed by the region’s peak domestic violence service ahead of its statewide trial rollout later this year.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, or “Clare’s Law”, is designed to provide people with information, including whether their current or former partner has a history of violence, that may protect them from a potentially abusive situation.
The initiative will be administered by the South Australian Police with the support of specialist domestic violence workers to ensure women have support to deal with any information disclosed and plan for their safety.
Centrecare Limestone Coast Domestic Violence Service manager Susie Smith said the early intervention initiative would empower women to walk away from potentially abusive relationships.
“If a woman is at the point where she asks for information about her partner, there would be some red flags in the relationship,” she said.
“With this information, she may be more likely to make accommodations to leave before violence erupts.”
Ms Smith was particularly supportive of information being released face-to-face with a specialist domestic violence worker present to support applicants.
“Having a specialist domestic violence support there when the information is being disclosed can help people women make sense of it,” she said.
“It is about making sure that she does not just hear that information from a police officer because some of the information may be very confronting.
“It is also important to have a specialist do a safety plan with her because ultimately it is all about her risk and her safety.”
Convictions for offences committed in South Australia, such as physical and sexual assault, property damage, stalking, unlawful threats and intervention orders will be disclosed.
Although the information will not extend to interstate criminal histories, police may choose to disclose information if an individual has a domestic violence order as part of the national domestic violence order scheme.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Assistant Minister Carolyn Habib said the scheme was an important preventative tool for potential victims of domestic violence and would complement a range of measures aimed at early intervention.
The trial will begin in October and will be independently evaluated after 12 months.
