Dela Cruz, Marvin E.

BSN IV-A

Women may be warned of partners' violent pasts under new 'Clare's Law'

Under 'Clare's law' named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by a man she met through a dating website police could warn women if their new partners have a history of abusive behavior. Plans aimed

at reducing the number of deaths from domestic violence are being considered by the home secretary. Police would be able to warn women if a new partner had a violent past under plans to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from domestic abuse being considered by the home secretary, Theresa May. The growth of online dating, coupled with the recent launch of a national police database, has encouraged the government to look at new ways to protect potential victims. A proposal for a "Clare's law' after 36-year-old Clare Wood, who met her murderer through an internet website is to be launched in London on Monday by Wood's father, Michael, and the former Labor cabinet minister Hazel Blears, who said May had written an "encouraging" letter on the issue. Wood's killer, George Appleton, set her body on fire before hanging himself in February 2009. An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission later criticized individual and systemic failures in the way Greater Manchester police had handled Wood's previous allegations that Appleton had harassed, assaulted and threatened to kill her. It emerged that he had a history of violence against women. The campaign has won backing from Louise Casey, the government's victims commissioner, and the Home Office confirmed on Sunday that it was looking closely at the idea, which would also protect men seeking new partners. Blears, MP for Salford and Eccles, in whose constituency Wood lived, said: Blears said two women a week died at the hands of violent partners or boyfriends, and the arrival of a national police database meant providing better information had become a more practical proposition. The trigger for release of information had yet to be determined but might either come in response to people raising concerns to the police over the behavior of a

partner or, more controversially, through the police proactively alerting people if a new partner had a history of violence flagged on the computer, even if a formal approach for information had not been made. In both instances, the decision to release details would have to be approved at a meeting with other agencies such as the NHS or children's services, said Blears. There should be no "free for all" allowing people to go on "fishing expeditions" or try to settle scores. "If a woman chose to carry on a relationship, so be it. At least they are fully informed." Wood's father Michael told the Mail on Sunday: "My daughter wasn't stupid. If she had known about that man's past, she would have taken herself out of there in a heartbeat." The Home Office said in a statement: "Clare's death was a tragic incident and it's important that lessons are learned. We are committed to doing all we can to protect victims of domestic violence including funding a network of independent domestic violence advisers and a national helpline for victims. "At the end of June we also launched domestic violence protection orders in three pilot areas to empower police officers and magistrates to stop offenders from contacting victims or returning to their home for up to 28 days. The first eighteen orders have been imposed by the courts, so they are already bringing protection to victims. "But we will always consider what more can be done We're looking at how the rollout of the police national database can further help forces identify and monitor repeat perpetrators, providing further protection to victims." The idea of "Clare's Law' follows the introduction of Sarah's Law giving information on child sex offenders following the murder of Sarah Payne by pedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. The evaluation of a pilot scheme on this published last year showed fathers raising concerns over their partners' new boyfriends were among the largest groups requesting information. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/17/women-warned-partners-clares-law

Reaction: Domestic violence is a well-known and often-used term. Although it may describe various violent relationships, such as child abuse, elder abuse, it is most commonly applied to an intimate relationship between two adults in which one partner uses a pattern of assault and intimidating acts to assert power and control over the other partner. Only recently recognized as a major public health issue, domestic violence has a long, dark past and is firmly entrenched in many societies. Although domestic violence usually includes violent attacks, it is not limited to physical acts of violence, but may include psychological, economic, and sexual abuse as well as attempts to isolate the partner. Domestic violence may lead to both physical and psychological signs and symptoms in the victim. Victims may have obvious physical signs of traumatic injury, but they may also complain of non injury signs and symptoms, such as chronic abdominal pain, that may seem unrelated to an abusive relationship. Family and friends, even coworkers, may see the following signs and symptoms. You may recognize some of them if you are a survivor of domestic violence. These are also signs that doctors look for in assessing potential victims of domestic abuse. This new law in London was created under the death of Clare Wood after being murdered by a man she met on an internet website. Clare was a victim of domestic violence; she was set on fire and burned alive by her murderer George Appleton, while George killed himself by committing suicide. With the help of Clares father and former Labor cabinet minister Hazel Blears, they pursue this act so that other women having same experience and situation with Clare would be aware of their partner's previous relationships and this can mean they start a relationship with someone with no idea if they have a violent past. Clare's tragic death shows how vulnerable women aren't always protected under the current law and until women are given the right to know if their partner has a history of serial domestic abuse they can't be sure of the risk that they face. By changing the law we can empower women so that they can take informed action about their relationship and give them the chance to protect themselves and prevent domestic abuse from happening before it begins. Sometimes regret is always at the end, once these things and situation happens we cannot do anything but to accept though it was not yet finished justice shall prevail especially for the victims. The empowerment of our law about domestic violence should be further implemented and strengthen so that abusers would have to think twice before they commit violence among their partners. For the victims they should spoke up, there is nothing to fear if your life is at stake. Would you rather chose to die, leave your children and done nothing but to cry and hide? Every problem has a solution that can be solve, it depends on you how to make a move a fight for your rights. If you are experiencing domestic violence, you may call a doctor whenever you think you require evaluation and treatment of acute injury, medical complaints resulting from chronic stress, or psychiatric illness. In addition, a doctor may help you assess your safety and access community resources. Community resources may

include various health-care agencies, law enforcement, and community groups. This is potentially a very dangerous time, because requesting help from others may put you at increased risk because the anger of the batterer may escalate due to a perceived loss of control on his or her part. In view of this, you should determine the appropriate time for others to intervene in an abusive relationship. A situation in which you may seek outside assistance is when you perceive an increasing risk to you and your children. Doctors and other professionals use two tools to help determine your risk. When you suffer an acute abusive episode, you must first insure your immediate safety. If you feel you are in immediate danger, you may notify local law enforcement for intervention. Once your immediate safety is assured, you may then assess your need for emergency department