A PILOT scheme launched to allow police to disclose a partner’s violent past could be rolled out nationally due to its success.

Four police forces in the country launched the trial scheme last summer in the aftermath of the murder of former Dewsbury woman Clare Wood.

The 36-year-old was strangled by ex-boyfriend George Appleton in 2009 after meeting him on the internet. He set her body on fire at her home in Salford before hanging himself.

Clare’s father, Michael Brown, and others campaigned ever since for women to be given the power to ask the police and other agencies to check the records of prospective boyfriends.

Her family later discovered that Appleton had a history of violence against women, including kidnapping an ex-girlfriend at knifepoint.

The charity Victim Support has campaigned for the trials of the project, known as Clare’s Law.

Lesley McLean, Victim Support Divisional Manager for West Yorkshire said: “Victim Support would like to see Clare’s Law rolled out across Yorkshire and the whole of the UK on the condition there are stringent guidelines to protect women who are told they are in a potentially abusive relationship.

“It is absolutely vital that all women who are told their partner has a history of violence are referred to victims’ services such as Victim Support straight away.

“We help victims of domestic violence in Huddersfield every day so we know how devastating it can be.”

Greater Manchester Police revealed they had received 82 requests under Clare’s Law, half of which resulted in the disclosure of information.

And in Wiltshire the force had received 10 applications in the last week.

The other forces taking part in the trial are Nottingham and Gwent.

Home Secretary Theresa May said at the launch: “Domestic violence is a dreadful crime which sees two women a week die at the hands of their partners and millions more suffer years of abuse in their own homes.

“That is why we are constantly looking at new ways of protecting victims.”

Under the scheme both men and women will be able to apply to check on a partner with whom they are embarking on an “intimate relationship.”

In February, Clare’s father travelled to Downing Street to hand in a 1,000 signature petition, backed by Salford MP Hazel Blears.