Men and women could be granted the right to information telling them if their partner has a violent past.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey has confirmed that a domestic abuse disclosure scheme - known as Clare’s Law - could be incorporated into new legislation.

He told the House of Keys that his department was drafting new laws to deal with domestic abuse and that a version of Clare’s Law could form part of that.

But he added it was ’quite complex’ as to how much information could be disclosed, under data protection rules. But he said it was an issue his department was taking seriously.

He added: ’Prior to introducing this new legislation into the branches we plan further targeted consultation with those parties from both government and other sectors who are responsible for providing services to victims of domestic abuse.

’This consultation will take place during the summer recess with a view to introducing legislation in a draft bill, before the branches, hopefully this coming October.’

Mr Malarkey was responding to a question tabled by Ann Corlett (Douglas Central), who said the expansion of social media and the likes of online dating created a ’real need’ for a disclosure scheme.

Coupled with an increase in population, it meant ’we know people less well than we used to’.

She expressed concern that at a recent domestic abuse court case the perpetrator was told by the court to inform probation if he started a new relationship, because a new partner could be at risk but would not have the right to ask or know.

’Relying on the perpetrators of domestic abuse to disclose this information is perhaps the wrong way around,’ she said.

Clare’s Law in the UK - named after a Clare Wood, who was killed by a man with a history of domestic violence - allows for people to ask police if they are at risk from a new partner and also allows the police to offer information.