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Chief constable highlights increase in use of ‘Clare’s Law’ in Hertfordshire

Local News by Deborah Price - Local Democracy Reporter 1 hour ago  
Andy Prophet
Andy Prophet
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Thousands of Hertfordshire residents used Clare's Law last year to find out if an individual had a history of domestic violence or abuse.

Hertfordshire's Chief Constable Andy Prophet says he would like the legislation to be used even more.

Clare's Law enables the police to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse that a person may have.

Disclosures can be triggered by an application from anyone who believes they may be at risk from a current or ex-partner, or by anyone who believes a friend may be at risk from a current or ex-partner.

On Monday (February 2), Mr Prophet revealed that the number of disclosures triggered by the legislation had increased in the county, from 418 in 2023 to 3,084 last year (2025).

He told a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel that the 418 disclosures back in 2023 "wasn't enough".

He told them that when 1,100 disclosures were made in 2024, "it isn't enough".

And even though the number of disclosures exceeded 3,000 in 2025, he told councillors he would "like us to still do more".

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"[..]we have invested a huge amount in terms of how we are looking after vulnerable victims," said Mr Prophet.

"So, there is something called a Clare's Law disclosure, where a victim of domestic abuse has a right to ask – or a right to be told – about a partner who may present a danger to them.

"In 2023, we did 418 disclosures. It wasn't enough.

"In 2024, we did 1,100 domestic abuse disclosures. It isn't enough.

"In the last year, we did 3,084. I would like us to still do more.

"But that's 3,084 people who have been given information they needed to know – who can make choices themselves that will ultimately, hopefully, keep them safer than they would have otherwise been.

"We are being more proactive with our use of other orders, like domestic violence protection orders – all because we know that the most serious harm is driven by domestic abuse, sadly."

Mr Prophet took over as Hertfordshire's chief constable in January 2025.

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He made the remarks as part of a broader update to the council's public health and community safety cabinet panel on the progress of the constabulary over the past 12 months.

     

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