Dutch Members of Parliament are pushing for the introduction of a law similar to the UK’s “Clare’s Law,” which would allow individuals to request information from the police about a partner’s history of violence. The motion aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their relationships and seek help early if needed, addressing concerns about femicide and violence against women in the Netherlands.

MP Hanneke van der Werf emphasized that lack of access to information about potentially violent partners puts women at unnecessary risk. She stressed that capacity issues within the police force should not be an obstacle to implementing such a law.

The proposed legislation would require State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie to investigate the feasibility of a Dutch version of Clare’s Law, enabling partners to “make a well-informed choice” and seek assistance promptly if necessary. Co-submitter Songül Mutluer highlighted the importance of sharing information in cases where the police have serious concerns about repeated violence, while still respecting privacy regulations.

The debate surrounding the motion is fueled by growing awareness of femicide, defined as fatal violence against women and girls. In the Netherlands, a woman is murdered approximately every eight days, with (ex-)partners being the perpetrators in about half of these cases.

Clare’s Law in the United Kingdom was named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her violent ex-partner in 2009. Following her death, Wood’s father campaigned for a change in legislation, leading to the introduction of the law in England and Wales in 2014. Similar legislation was later adopted in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The UK law allows police to proactively share information with partners or ex-partners, balancing public interest with privacy considerations.

However, the BBC reported that the UK police often fail to respond to requests within the intended 28-day timeframe, citing a specific case where a woman waited 85 days for a decision. The most recent figures showed in 2024 that 45,000 requests were submitted in England and Wales together. Despite these challenges, Dutch MPs believe that if such a law is possible abroad, it should also be possible in the Netherlands. Van der Werf argued that privacy concerns should not prevent the implementation of the legislation, stating that victims deserve to be informed if there is a documented history of violence.