West Mercia police receive four domestic abuse inquiries under new Clare's Law
West Mercia Police has received four requests for information following the introduction of new powers to protect people from domestic abuse.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as Clare's Law, came into force last week.
It gives people the right to ask police whether a new or existing partner has a violent past.
A 14-month pilot scheme provided more than 100 people with potentially life-saving information.
Barrie Sheldon, from the West Mercia Police & Crime Commissioner's office, which covers Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "West Mercia has received four applications for disclosure in support of Clare's Law to date.
"All are being carefully considered." Clare's Law is named after Clare Wood, 36, who was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton at her home in Greater Manchester.
Miss Wood, a mother-of-one, had met Appleton on Facebook, unaware of his history of violence against women, including repeated harassment, threats and the kidnapping at knifepoint of one of his ex-girlfriends.
He went on the run after killing his ex-girlfriend and hanged himself while still at large.
The law has been welcomed by a Shropshire woman who was the victim of prolonged domestic violence which only ended when the man beat her with a baseball bat, fracturing her arm.
Kaylin Mauchlen, 21, had been campaigning for tougher laws since her former lover was jailed last October.
Kaylin, who lives near Shrewsbury, said: "It took me all my strength to walk away from him, but since then I have called for this sort of law to come into force. Being able to check up on a partner is great but the onus is still on the woman getting the information from the police."
At the launch of the scheme, Home Secretary Theresa May said: "
Protection for victims is improving but sadly there are still too many cases where vulnerable people are let down."
