Michael believed that this knowledge could have saved Clare’s life. So he began a passionate campaign as an ambassador for other families who had also suffered a similar loss. His vision was to create a police disclosure scheme that would allow everyone the right to know of a partner’s history of violence.

Michael’s efforts paved the way for Clare’s Law in the UK and abroad

He finally managed to get Clare’s Law passed in England and Wales in 2014. It was then rolled out to his birthplace Scotland in 2016, and Northern Ireland in 2018. Since then, a version of Clare’s Law has also been trialled in New South Wales, Australia, and the province of Saskatchewan in Canada.

His landmark campaign was recognised with a number of awards

Michael received a number of awards recognising his efforts to raise awareness of Clare’s Law and domestic violence. These include a British Citizen Award (Jan 2020), and an Everyday Heroes Award in his home town of Aberdeen (Feb 2020). He was also appointed patron of The Endeavour Project – a Bolton-based support group for families affected by domestic abuse. Michael’s legacy continues to inspire change Sadly, Michael died in July 2020 – but his spirit continues to lives on. He was posthumously awarded the 2020 She Inspires award in the ‘He For She’ category, for male champions of gender equality. She Inspires also introduced the Michael Brown Agent Of Change award in his memory, recognising those who have also fought to right obvious wrongs.

Michael’s lasting impact has also been widely recognised by the press:

-‘his work has already saved hundreds of lives and believe his legacy will save thousands more’
-‘After the best part of a decade, Clare’s Law will finally become enshrined into law as part of the Domestic Abuse Bill’

A timeline of Michael’s campaign

2009
-Inquest into Clare’s murder reveals a loophole in the Data Protection Act that prevents police from sharing information about individuals with a history of violence or abuse

-Michael joins forces with Manchester news reporter Michelle Livesey. They contact Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford

-Nationwide poll is published in ‘Fabulous’ magazine, which reveals 91% of people would want to know if their partner had a history of domestic abuse. A further 77% stated they would leave a relationship if that information was disclosed to them by police

-Michael launches the ‘Respect and Protect’ campaign (later re-named the ‘Clare’s Law Campaign’) with the parliamentary support of Hazel Blears, and other MPs including former Home Secretary Alan Johnson

2010

-Michael and Hazel Blears meet current Home Secretary Theresa May, who announces the launch of a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme consultation

-Michael’s petition for Clare’s Law receives over 1,000 signatures. He delivers it to Downing Street with Michelle Livesey and Hazel Blears, receiving significant media coverage and public attention

-Michael uses the media push to continue his public campaign for Clare’s Law

2012-14
-The Home Office announce a Clare’s Law pilot scheme by police forces in Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire and Gwent

-Clare’s Law is finally rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales

2015-16
-Michael calls for a similar scheme to be introduced in his birthplace of Scotland, travelling to Holyrood to meet with Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon

-A pilot of Clare’s Law is launched in Ayrshire and Michael’s hometown of Aberdeen

-Clare’s Law is officially introduced in Scotland, and known as the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS)

2016 onwards
-Michael gives many TV and radio interviews (such as GMTV and The One Show), and gives speeches at various women’s refuges

-Several documentaries cover Clare’s story, including The Crime that Shook Britain, Deadly Dates, Swipe Right for Murder

-Teen magazine, local publications and national news all publish Clare’s story to raise awareness of the potential dangers of dating through social media

-Clare’s Law informs a Coronation Street storyline between characters Geoff Metcalfe and Yasmeen Nazir