The Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act, or Clare's Law, will be coming into effect on June 29 in Saskatchewan.

First introduced in the UK after Clare Wood was murdered by a violent partner with an abusive past, Clare's Law gives law enforcement the authority to disclose information to help protect potential victims of violence.

Once the law comes into effect, an application can be made at any municipal police station for the release of information on a partner's past violent or abusive behaviour.

Crystal Giesbrecht is the director or research and communications at the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS).

She says that the law in Saskatchewan will be very similar in its framework as it is in the United Kingdom.

"There are two options. So number one is the right to ask and the other is the right to know. So number one, someone has the right to go to the police and ask if there's information that might be relevant in terms of their risk. The other side of that, the right to know, gives the police the opportunity to speak to someone who could be in danger and tell them information about risk if they feel that it's relevant."

While privacy concerns have been raised by the RCMP, who say that at this time they cannot participate; releasing a statement saying that while they support the law, they are subject to federal privacy laws, unlike municipal police services.

Giesbrecht explains that any information is de-identified as a matter of course, with theoretically only the officer who received the initial application knowing any of the names involved in the request.

"All names and other identifying information is removed but the facts of the case are shared with the multi-sector review committee, (which) can then provide some recommendations regarding making disclosure in that case."

That committee, Giesbrecht says, is made up of police, victims' services and PATHS.

She stresses as well, that in the case of disclosure, the person making the request is never given anything on paper.

"It's only a verbal disclosure, and what they're told is (either) 'There is a risk' or 'We have no information to disclose'. So they're not given a copy of any confidential records; there's no information."

Despite the RCMP's concerns, she still hopes that the national law enforcement agency will be involved eventually. While she understands their concerns, she says that the RCMP were involved in discussions from the beginning, so the interest is there.

"We do have the sense that the RCMP are interested in working together on this and I'm just very much hoping that that will be resolved and that the RCMP will be able to be part of Clare's Law."

Giesbrecht admits that Clare's Law will not be the solution in every case, as some people who may be dangerous but may have simply not come to the attention of the police.

"For some people, receiving this information might make them think differently about their situation. It might help them to put some safety measures in place if they're planning to end a relationship. So I think there's no downside."