Key 103 takes Clare’s Law to parliament

A campaign led by Manchester station Key 103 calling for a law-change to help prevent violent attacks by partners has made it to parliament.

One of the Bauer station’s journalists met with MPs and other officials this week as part of attempts to get ‘Clare’s Law’ onto the statute book.

The law would give people the right to know if their partner has a violent past, and the campaign to introduce it was launched following the murder of Salford woman Clare Wood who was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. He had a history of violence towards women and the coroner at Clare’s inquest had said she would be writing to the Home Secretary to suggest a change in the law.

Key 103 decided to be the force behind the Coroner’s comments and after liaising with Clare’s dad Michael, launched the ‘Clare’s Law’ campaign. In just a week they gathered support from Domestic Abuse Charities, the Association of Chief Police Officers and Salford MP Hazel Blears – who agreed to champion the campaign at Government level. The station was then invited to Parliament for a meeting with senior Government officials including former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, Baroness Scotland and Victims Commissioner Louise Casey, to discuss how such a law could work and why it should be passed.

The Home Secretary has agreed to consider the proposals and will be making an announcement in the next few weeks. In an interview with Key 103, Clare’s dad said: “The tidal-wave of support which you have drummed up surpassed anything I could have imagined. I can’t believe the momentum of this campaign and to end up going down to Westminster, I can’t thank you enough.”

Key 103 reporter Michelle Livesey told RadioToday.co.uk she never imagined the effect and reception the campaign would have. “I have had personal letters from victims offering their support through our online petition and for the campaign to then head to Parliament was fantastic,” she said. “It has attracted huge interest from the national media, including a front-page-spread in the Mail on Sunday. The Sun’s ‘Fabulous’ magazine has also asked if we would like to join forces with their similar campaign.”