Clare's Law campaigner Michael Brown who fought for domestic violence reform in honour of murdered daughter dies aged 76

Michael Brown, 76, was the father of Clare Wood, who was murdered by an abusive ex-partner who she did not know had a history of violence towards women.

After her murder in 2009 Mr Brown, from South Elmsall, campaigned for a change to the law that would allow people to access potentially lifesaving informational about a partner if alarm bells were raised.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) – better known as Clare’s Law – came into force in England and Wales in March 2014.

Mr Brown, who previously lived in Batley, died in hospital in Sheffield on Saturday night following a short illness. Mr Brown’s sister, Carol Whicher, said: “Michael never stopped fighting after he lost his daughter Clare in such horrific circumstances.

“He didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate she did and always said if he could save just one person from a life of domestic abuse then his campaigning had been worth it.”

Earlier this year, Mr Brown, from received a British Citizenship award.

Clare’s Law also came into effect in Scotland in 2016 and Northern Ireland in 2018. It is being trialled in Australia, Australia and Canada.

Mr Brown continued to fight for the scheme to used to its full potential in the years after it was established.

He called for more requests to be granted and campaigned for the length of time authorities have to respond to requests to be reduced.

Mother-of-one Miss Wood, 36, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, George Appleton, in 2009.

He was found six days after her murder, hanged in a derelict pub.