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Statutory guidance

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

How frontline officers and those who work in the area of public protection must apply the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office
Published:
16 July 2012
Last updated:
16 August 2023
Show all updates

  1. Easy read version added.

  2. British Sign Language and Welsh translations added.

  3. Accessible version added.

  4. Title page: removed the disclaimer saying the guidance has no legal effect, following the commencement of Section 77 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

  5. Updated guidance based on the results of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme consultation.

  6. Updated guidance published.

  7. First published.

Documents

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (accessible)

HTML

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

PDF, 543 KB, 59 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Welsh)

PDF, 552 KB, 62 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (British Sign Language)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLER5PRTpgcQSw5ai_QPWIv9Q1f_yu-wOn

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (easy read)

PDF, 887 KB, 8 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This guidance provides information about:

  • checks to be completed
  • a set of minimum standards of information to be obtained from the applicant
  • suggested forms of wording for communicating outcomes at each stage of the disclosure scheme process
  • recommended minimum levels of knowledge and experience required by practitioners to discharge functions within the disclosure scheme effectively

The guidance was updated following a consultation on the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme guidance.

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