Essex Police has made a "dramatic improvement" in responding to requests under Clare's Law – which allows people to learn of their partner's criminal record.

Figures up to March last year from the time the law came in in 2014 the force had only made 262 disclosures – equivalent to a rate of five per cent of the total number of requests received.

Since the change of approach in August last year, the number of disclosures to the end of December rose to a disclosure rate of 66 per cent.

Roger Hirst, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: "There is now a much-increased readiness to respond there is certainly a new policy of declaring both spent and unspent convictions and sharing intelligence with those who inquire under the domestic violence disclosure scheme which is Claire's law."

Essex Police had been rated as the worst performing of all forces in sharing information to requests made under the legislation.

Mr Hirst said: "I'm pleased to be able to tell you that we have made 262 disclosures since the change in approach on August 1 last year to the end of December.

In those few months, we made 264 disclosures, so we have we have moved from a 5 percent disclosure rate to a 66 percent disclosure rate.

"That is not yet where we wish it to be but it is a dramatic improvement in reaction to precisely the issue."

Clare's Law named after Clare Wood, a 36-year-old woman from Yorkshire who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton in 2009 allows police to both disclose and proactively inform people of their partners' criminal records and relevant past convictions.

This update follows recent efforts from Essex Police to prioritise reducing violence against women and girls.

In data released today (February 5, 2024) Essex Police said that compared to 2022, "violent offences against women and girls in 2023 has fallen by 13.6% in Essex.

"That's 5,217 less offences reported. There was also 12.1% decrease in the number of sexual offences against women and girls. And our officers solved 14.3% more sexual offences committed against women or girls too."

Essex Police encourage the public to take part in their survey, in which they invite you to report specific areas around Essex you feel unsafe.

Edited by Chloe Brewster