THE father of a murder victim has handed in a petition at No 10 demanding a change in the law to help protect women from domestic abuse.
Michael Brown, originally from Aberdeen, travelled to Downing Street as part of a campaign to introduce Clare's Law so women can find out if boyfriends or husbands have a history of domestic violence.
Mr Brown's daughter, Clare Wood, was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, George Appleton, at her home in Salford, Greater Manchester in February 2009.
Appleton, called the "Facebook Fugitive", then went on the run before hanging himself in a derelict pub six days later.
Ms Wood, 36, a mother-of-one, had met Appleton on Facebook, unaware of his history of violence against women, including repeated harassment, threats and the kidnapping at knifepoint of one of his ex-girlfriends.
At the inquest into Ms Wood's death last year, coroner Jennifer Leeming said women in abusive relationships should have the right to know about the violent past of the men they were with.
Sarah's Law, named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000, gives parents the right to know of any child sex convictions of men who have access to their children.
Mr Brown, backed by MP for Salford Hazel Blears and Manchester radio station Key 103, is asking the Government to introduce Clare's Law.
At Downing Street yesterday, Mr Brown, a former prison officer who now lives in Batley, West Yorkshire, handed over the 1000-signature petition calling for a change in the law.
He said: "I have been campaigning for the past six months and have been pleasantly surprised at the public reaction to the proposed change in the law.
"The interest worldwide is also unbelievable, from America to Australia, to an article in Pravda.
"The world is watching for a lead from the UK's Government, the cradle of democracy, and I pray that they make the right decision."
Home Secretary Theresa May last year agreed to open a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme to public consultation and is now considering the response.
A verdict of unlawful killing by strangulation was recorded as the cause of Ms Wood's death, and Ms Leeming said she would report back to the Government recommending that people at risk of harm should be given information about their partner's past so they can make an informed choice.
Ms Wood had complained to police of a catalogue of harassment.
In the months before her murder she had repeatedly contacted Greater Manchester Police alleging Appleton had caused criminal damage, harassed her, threatened to kill her and tried to rape her.
Appleton had a history of violence towards women and was known to prowl online dating websites including Facebook, in search of partners. At the inquest into his daughter's death, Mr Brown said she had told him Appleton had a criminal record – though only for motoring offences.
In reality, he had been jailed for three years in 2002 for harassing another woman and for six months a year earlier after breaching a restraining order on another ex-girlfriend.
Police watchdogs at the Independent Police Complaints Commission later ruled Ms Wood had been badly let down by Greater Manchester Police. The force has now instigated a raft of changes to policy and procedures in the handling of domestic abuse cases.
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