Gloucestershire Uni Graduate uses filmmaking to promote awareness for Clare's Law
Her documentary on Clare's Law is set to aid police training
Last updated 8th Apr 2026
Phoebe Brooks, a graduate of film production from the University of Gloucestershire, is leveraging her filmmaking skills to raise awareness for Clare's Law through a powerful documentary.
Clare's Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, allows individuals to ask police about a partner’s violent history.
Brooks’ motivation stems from her personal experience with domestic violence, after reporting coercive control and rape, she was introduced to the law by police as a preventative measure.
The inspiration for Brooks’ documentary came when she pitched the idea at university where she discovered minimal awareness about Clare’s Law.
"I asked how many people had heard of Clare's Law or the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, and I think about two people raised their hands.
"And when this is a law that can literally save lives, that felt like something that was really important for me to raise more awareness of." Brooks said.
She added: "I then started researching more into Claire Wood and who she was, who the woman was behind this law, her father Michael Brown who made this law and Michelle Livesey the journalist who helped create this law.
"I thought it was such a tragic and inspiring story that more people needed to hear because it's easy to tell people about what a law is but I think when you attach the human story to it and you bring emotion into it and you explain that this was a real person and what she went through and it was a very easily preventable situation, it will connect with more people and reach more people."
The Documentary's Impact
Brooks’ documentary has caught the attention of Avon and Somerset Police, who are incorporating it into their disclosure officer training programmes.
Brooks says while the film was created with students in mind, its use in police training showcases its effectiveness in conveying complex issues through emotive storytelling.
The feedback from Chief Constable Sarah Crewe highlighted the documentary's ability to humanise Clare Wood's story, offering a poignant contrast to typical corporate training videos.
Future Aspirations
Phoebe says she hopes the documentary will not only help train officers but help create awareness for survivors: "I think there is definitely a sense of me using my own personal experience, negative experience, and turning it into something positive that will hopefully help other people.
"And also, from the point of view of a survivor who chose to report their ex and didn't get a conviction out of it, that is such a common story with survivors because it is so hard to get convictions for things like this, especially when it's a historical case.
"I think I also made this documentary hoping that it would bring some peace of mind to survivors who watch it, who maybe have reported their abuser and didn't gain anything or didn't feel like they gained anything from that, to know they have to have that reassurance, that it is on their record and future girls who could be potential victims of the same person can look it up and can find their history.
"That was really something that I think personally helped me with closure and was something that I also wanted to give to other survivors."
Brooks’ aim is to see the documentary used beyond Avon and Somerset. She hopes for it to aid police forces nationwide and generate awareness among young people, especially students.
Universities are starting to show interest, with screenings intended to reach beyond law and policing courses.