Eight people have used a disclosure system to check if their partner has a violent past since it was rolled out in Aberdeen last month.
The Scottish pilot of the groundbreaking Clare’s Law, which allows people to check if their partner has a history of domestic violence, was launched in the city last month.
Under the legislation, people will be able to apply to police to check whether an individual has a record of domestic abuse or violent acts, regardless of whether they have been convicted.
Yesterday police revealed eight people had so far taken up the chance to find out about their partner’s past.
Detective Inspector Graham Smith, from the city’s domestic abuse investigation unit, said: “We have got eight applications in Aberdeen which is a fantastic response.
“This is a new initiative and these are possible eight opportunities to allow people to make an informed decision as to whether or not to stay in a potentially abusive relationship.
“This scheme allows men and women, in certain circumstances, to find out whether their partner has a history of domestic violence.”
The scheme was introduced in England and Wales earlier this year, and is now being piloted in Aberdeen and Ayrshire.
It comes after north-east man Michael Brown campaigned tirelessly to allow people to check with police whether their partner has a record of abusive behaviour, after the death of his daughter.
Clare Wood was murdered and set on fire in 2009 by her abusive boyfriend. She met him on Facebook, but unknown to her, he had a long history of violence against women.