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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Key definition
Domestic violence definition What does Domestic violence mean? Domestic violence describes abuse within an intimate or family relationship by a current or former partner or family member. It includes physical assault and threats, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological harm (including verbal abuse), controlling or coercive behaviour, and economic/financial abuse. In practice, it may involve a single incident or a pattern of behaviour. Across the UK and Ireland, legislation largely uses the term domestic abuse and provides statutory definitions and offences. In England and Wales, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines abuse between people aged 16+ who are “personally connected”, expressly covering economic abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour....
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Clare’s Law and Protective Orders: Police/Court Powers, Guidance, and the Transition from DVPNs/DVPOs to DAPNs/DAPOs under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (England and Wales)
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Practice notes
This Practice Note outlines the provisions of the Domestic violence Disclosure Scheme (commonly known as Clare’s Law). It explains the guidance governing the scheme. It also summarises the powers available to the police and the court under the Crime and Security Act 2010 regarding domestic violence protection notices and domestic violence protection orders, and the way these are influenced by the domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders created by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DAA 2021).
Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), often referred to as Clare’s Law, was implemented across all 43 police forces in England and Wales on 8 March 2014. The DVDS established processes enabling the police to share information about an individual’s previous violent or abusive offending, including emotional abuse, controlling or coercive behaviour, or economic abuse, where doing so may help safeguard their partner or former partner, and any relevant children, from violent or abusive conduct. A review of the DVDS took place in 2015. The purpose of the DVDS is to provide victims with information that might protect them from an abusive situation. Its guidance explains how the scheme works and when disclosures occur. The DVDS...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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