Clare's Law of UK Can Set International Legal Trend

03/05/12

So, what's the relevance to the international community?


The case of Clare Wood highlights the actual change that has taken place in our social interactivity where more and more people meet each other on the internet and really do not have any clue to each other's backgrounds. This situation was easily avoided when couples used to get acquainted through friends, family, and physical communities and neighborhoods.

Clare's law has been created in response to the violent torture and death of Clare Wood that was a direct result of the internet age and the change in our methods of social interaction.

Clare Wood was killed in 2009 after months of sexual assaults and death threats by a man whom she had met and befriended on Facebook. George Appleton, who seduced Clare on Facebook, ultimately strangled and set Clare on fire leading to her death.

The legislation takes into account the concern of men and women meeting each other through the internet and social networks and being unable to personally check identities or background lacking the means. Contacts on Facebook and other social networks go by face value, but can lead to fraud, and deaths, as in the case of Clare.

The proposed legislation allows the police to reject frivolous requests of information, and also allows the police to reject such requests of information by friends or family, except that made directly by the involved person. The proposals also include that such information would be released only after approval by senior police officers after being satisfied that concerns about a partner are genuine.

In UK, in 2010 alone at least two persons were killed each week by ex-partners or lovers initially found through the internet.

Clare's law would be modeled on 'Sarah's Law' named after murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne. Incidentally, Sarah's law allows parents to learn of pedophiles in their area upon request made to the police.

Meeting up through internet social networks and falling victim has become a common affair and part of social reality. As laws reflect the needs of changing social order, Clare's law has the chance to promote important safeguards for both men and women living in the 21st Century and set a precedent for others.