Ten men use 'Clare's Law' to ask for details about partners

The figures, obtained by the ManKind charity under the Freedom of Information Act, also show that 52 women have applied for information under the new law, which came into force in March last year.

The scheme gives members of the public a 'right to ask' police for details about whether their partner has a record of abuse.

If an application is made under the scheme, police will carry out checks and if they show a record of abusive offences, or other information indicating a risk, they may release some information.

ManKind, which offers support for men who are victims of violence in the home, has voiced concerns that men did not realise that the legislation applied to them.

Charity founder Ian McNicholl, said he was concerned that the commonly used title Clare's Law – after Clare Wood, a 36-year-old mother who was murdered by a man she met on Facebook – meant that men did not realise the scheme was available to them too.

He called on police and crime commissioner Bill Longmore to make men aware that the law applied to them as well as women.

Mr McNicholl said: "It is similar to asking pensioners 'Why are you not going on a Club 18-30 Holiday?'

"The clue is in the title. This life changing legislation is available to men right across West Mercia and they should be encouraged to come forward and seek help from the police."

Mr McNicholl, who was left needing cosmetic surgery after suffering two years of abuse at the hands of his then girlfriend, added: "Had Clare's Law been available to me, why would I have taken advantage of this scheme while I was been victimised if I thought it was just for women?

"Don't be like me, please make the request to the police or alternatively speak to friends and family and ask them to make the request on your behalf.

West Mercia's deputy police and crime commissioner Barrie Sheldon said domestic violence was an issue which affected men as well as women, and added that the force was committed to tackling abuse against both sexes.

Mr Sheldon said: "Clearly, domestic violence is an issue that draws no distinctions between gender, age, race, or anything else.

"We know it can and does affect men who are victims, just as much as women."

He said the commissioner's office did a huge amount of work aimed at tackling the problem.

"We make sure our work helps all victims, regardless of who they are," said Mr Sheldon.

He said while the term Clare's Law was commonly used, the legislation had always formally been known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.