‘Clare’s Law’ father hails police move to help vulnerable

Clare Wood’s father, Michael Brown, of Batley, is backing Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) creation of a public protection division to investigate crimes against the vulnerable, target offenders and support victims.

The force was criticised for a number of failings in its treatment of Miss Wood, 36, of Salford, who died at the hands of George Appleton who she had met on the internet. The Independent Police Complaints Commission concluded Miss Wood had been let down by “individual and systemic” failures by GMP.

In the months before her murder in 2009 she had repeatedly contacted GMP, claiming Appleton had caused criminal damage, harassed, threatened to kill and sexually assaulted her.

It emerged he had a history of violence against women, which she was unaware of.

Appleton hanged himself after he strangled her and set her on fire.

Her death led to the Government announcing year-long trials, starting this summer, where people in Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire and Gwent can ask police if a partner has a violent background, dubbed Clare’s Law.

In the aftermath of the case GMP acknowledged the need to change its approach to investigations and supporting vulnerable people.

Head of the new division Det Chief Supt Mary Doyle believes it is a “huge step forward” in protecting victims and targeting offenders.

“The introduction of the new public protection division demonstrates our commitment to protecting vulnerable people, investigating cases thoroughly and bringing offenders to justice,” she said.

“We have responded dynamically to recent cases where failings were identified, recognised that mistakes have been made in the past and are committed to ensuring that they will not happen in the future. The new division has taken on management responsibility for the divisional public protection investigation units which will remain based on divisions and staffed in accordance to demand, said GMP.

It also draws together the existing serious crime division units such as the safeguarding vulnerable persons unit, the sex offender management unit and the sexual crimes unit.

Mr Brown will attend the official launch of the new division tomorrow.”