Almost 20,000 people warned about partners with abusive pasts under disclosure scheme

Almost 20,000 people have been told their partner has a history of abusive behaviour since a national disclosure scheme was launched ten years ago.

The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) was introduced on 1 October 2015 to allow anyone with concerns about their partner – or the partner of someone they know – to ask Police Scotland whether that person has a record of abuse.

Since its launch, 35,847 applications have been made, with 19,867 disclosures issued. That represents just over half (55%) of all requests.

Detective superintendent Adam Brown said: “DSDAS is an important preventative tool in tackling domestic abuse.

“Before the DSDAS scheme, there was no formal way for an individual to find out if their partner had a previous history of abusive behaviour. Similarly, there was no mechanism for the police to proactively tell individuals if their partner posed a risk to them.

“The introduction of DSDAS has made significant changes and improvements to the landscape of violence against women. It gives people the right to ask and police the right to tell individuals at risk of domestic abuse about the history of their partner. They can then make an informed decision about their relationship.

“Since its introduction, we have seen demand to use the scheme steadily grow with around 600 applications currently being submitted every month, and that figure is growing.”

The scheme operates through two routes: Right to Ask and Power to Tell.

Under the Right to Ask, anyone who has a concern, be it the individual in the relationship, their family, friends, colleagues or neighbours, can submit an application.

Under Power to Tell, professionals such as police officers, social workers and medical staff can apply for a disclosure to be made where they have reason to believe a person could be at risk of domestic abuse.

If background checks indicate a credible threat and disclosure is deemed lawful, proportionate and necessary, police share relevant information with the person at risk.

Detective superintendent Brown added: “Police Scotland recorded over 63,500 incidents of domestic abuse in 2023-24.

“Domestic abuse is not just physical, it can include coercive control, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, plus economic abuse. The effects of domestic abuse can be traumatic and long-lasting for victims, and also for children.

“Receiving a disclosure can help people make a decision about their relationship and help prevent them from enduring many months or years of abuse.

“The DSDAS application form can be accessed on our website, and I would urge anyone with concerns, either for themselves or someone they know, to submit a DSDAS application.”

Linda Rodgers, CEO of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, attended the launch of DSDAS in 2015 and believes the scheme provides an early intervention that can help people avoid the long-term trauma of domestic abuse.

She said: “We know that receiving a disclosure can be a shock to some. However, when those receiving a disclosure realise that the concerning behaviour has been done previously to others, it can be the catalyst for them to seek support to leave, as they realise it’s not their fault.

“We have seen an increase in the number of women using our services since the scheme began.

“I would encourage anyone with concerns about their partner, or the partner of someone they know ,to use DSDAS. We can support them in this process if they are not able to do this at home.

“I would also recommend contacting any of the many partner organisations, such as ourselves, who can provide practical and emotional support.”

Anyone with concerns about their partner, or about someone else’s, can apply for a disclosure through the Police Scotland website, by calling 101, or by visiting a police station.