The police are being given new powers to disclose the history of a person with a violent past, if they pose a risk to the family they're living with.

Called the Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme, it'll allow anyone who feels threatened to approach the police for information about that person's past.

In urgent cases, where there's a very real threat, the disclosure will be relayed within 24 hours.

In other cases it'll be communicated within 20 working days.

Anyone who feels threatened can inquire at a police station or can phone the police.