A police force has disclosed information about six people after requests were made under a potentially life-saving scheme to curb domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, called "Clare’s Law", was piloted in Greater Manchester in 2012 and rolled out across the rest of the country earlier this year. 

The scheme is designed to provide victims with information that may protect them from a potentially abusive situation. 

Clare Wood, 36, from Salford, was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, George Appleton in 2009 and the scheme was named after Ms Wood. Appleton was later found hanged in a derelict pub on the outskirts of Manchester.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has received 25 applications from people who want to know more about their partners and four applications have been submitted by agencies who felt somebody may be at risk.

The police force has disclosed information about six people after they carried out checks following requests.

Wood had met Appleton on Facebook and was unaware of his history of violence against women, including repeated harassment, threats and the kidnapping at knifepoint of one of his ex-girlfriends. 

Detective Chief Inspector Clare Smith, from the Harm Reduction unit at Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "We want to send a clear message to the people of Hertfordshire that Clare’s Law is here to help them - 
regardless of their sex, age or sexuality - if you are unsure about your partner’s past you have the right to ask about them - that is what this scheme is about.

"It doesn't just have to be the partner who asks - close friends and family can ask on behalf of a person they think might be at risk. Then if we do find anything and we need to disclose information, would only go to the person in that relationship who could be at risk from their partner. 

"Nationally, this law is saving lives by helping people make more informed decisions about their partners from information they have. 

"We want more people to come forward and make that application if they are, or if they know someone who they believe is at risk. Every application we process and each disclosure we make is a further step towards us protecting people from Domestic Abuse."

Once an application is made, police officers and partner agencies will carry out checks and they will then consider disclosing the information.

The decision to disclose the information depends on the severity of any offence and the time since it happened.

For further support you can call the Domestic Violence Hotline on 0808 2000 247.