Clare's Law allows anyone to ask whether their current or former partner has a history of violent or abusive behaviour.

The scheme also encourages officers to proactively contact people who might be at risk of domestic abuse - and inform them about their partner's record.

But Wiltshire Police has confirmed that some of those who made an application were not given information that could have protected them.

Now, more than 3,500 applications made between April 2015 and August 2023 are undergoing an urgent audit.

Of those, information ended up being disclosed in 1,195 cases.

The concerns are linked to the work of a member of police staff who is currently under investigation and suspended from the force.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper said Wiltshire Police will be attempting to contact those who may be at risk - and anyone in immediate danger should call 999.

"I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly apologise on behalf of the organisation to anyone we have let down," she added.

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A spokesman from the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it is investigating allegations that a staff member at Wiltshire Police had "failed to comply with the requirements of Clare's Law".

Police records are being scrutinised to determine whether applications were handled in accordance with local and national policies - and the staff member's training history is also being examined.

Clare's Law - which was introduced in England and Wales in 2014 - is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton in 2009.

An inquest into her death revealed that Appleton had a history of violent behaviour against women, but she had not been informed because of a loophole in the Data Protection Act.

Clare's father, Michael Brown, successfully campaigned for the law to be changed.