Potential victims of domestic violence may be warned about their partners’ history of abusive behaviour under a scheme set to be trialled in NSW.
Under the “Right To Ask” scheme, NSW Police would be given the power to disclose information about a domestic violence offender to potential new victims.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposed scheme, based on the United Kingdom’s domestic violence disclosure scheme known as Clare’s Law, would help people to make informed decisions about their relationships.
The proposed NSW scheme would enable a person who may be at risk to apply through an online portal or phone line to access information about their partner, which would be available in multiple languages. Any information would be approved by NSW Police before it is provided, with strict privacy controls in place, including criminal penalties for malicious applications.
Police Minister and Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the dating landscape had “shifted considerably” since the previous trial, with more people accessing dating apps and dating outside their friendship circles.
The new scheme “will allow them to make more informed decisions about continuing a relationship, moving in with someone or making them a part of their family, particularly where children are involved”, he said.
The government will meet domestic violence organisations on Monday to discuss the implementation of the Right To Ask scheme, which will be subject to a review after 12 months.
Source: 12ft | NSW Police may disclose domestic violence history under ‘Right to Ask’ trial