Women will be able to find out if their partners have an abusive past as the domestic violence disclosure scheme – known as Clare's law – is rolled out across every police force across England and Wales.

The scheme, named after Clare Wood, who was murdered five years ago by her former partner, was announced last year and piloted by four police forces. From Friday anyone who fears a partner is abusive, or may have an abusive past, will be able to go to police and ask for any past convictions to be revealed.

To mark International Women's Day the government also announced the introduction of domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs), designed to provide protection for women in the initial aftermath of an attack by imposing conditions that can immediately prevent contact.

"Protection for victims is improving but sadly there are still too many cases where vulnerable people are let down, said the home secretary, Theresa May. "I am determined to see a society where violence against women and girls is not tolerated, where people speak out, and where no woman or girl has to suffer domestic abuse."

Clare Wood, 36, was strangled and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend George Appleton at her home in Salford. He had a history of violence against women, including kidnapping an ex-girlfriend at knifepoint. Wood's father, Michael Brown, said he was absolutely delighted that women had been given the right to know their partner's history. "It's tinged with a bit of emotion and a bit of sadness but we have got what we were fighting for – to bring protection into the country for half the population," he said.

But while some organisations welcomed the scheme, others feared it could leave women more vulnerable. According to Refuge two women are killed by a current or former partner every week, but 77% of domestic violence cases are never reported to police, so if a vulnerable woman seeks information she may be left with a false sense of security, or feeling that her own fears have been undermined.

"If a woman inquires about her partner she may be told that he has no history of violence, she may then believe that she is safe, but this does not necessarily mean that she will be safe – possibly quite the reverse," said Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge. "What will happen if a woman is told that her partner does have a history of violence? Will she be expected to pack her bags and leave straight away? We know that it isn't that simple. And if women do leave, where are they supposed to go? Refuges are closing up and down the country because of huge funding cuts."

According to a recent Women's Aid survey of 150 organisations, 112 specialist posts were lost in 2013/2013 , while on one "snapshot" day - 27 June 2013 - 155 women and 103 children were turned away from the first refuge they approached.

Felicity, now 23, was studying law in London when she was attacked by her then partner. "He smashed up the house, grabbed me by the throat until I could barely breathe and said that if I moved he would kill me," she said. "Then he put a knife to my throat but I managed to grab my phone, barricaded myself in the bathroom and call the police."

When officers arrived the man admitted what he had done and was released on bail on condition he didn't contact Felicity, didn't return to the property and paid for the damage. Within days he had broken all three conditions. "The first officer who dealt with me was brilliant, but then her supervisor took over, and honestly – he just wasn't bothered. He said his bail would be up in three days, and just to wait it out." The partner would call Felicity and ask why she wasn't home so she knew he was watching – she was terrified because police had not confiscated his keys. "It was the scariest ten days of my life, I would phone the police in tears but they just didn't care."

After the bail hearing, no charges were made. "The supervisor said: 'He seemed like a decent guy and I believed him.' It was like thinking someone had your back, and turning around to find they'd gone - it was a very lonely place." Since then Felicity has left her course and moved back to her parents, and is paying of the debt caused by the damage her ex caused, which he has never paid for.

She thinks that without a complete change in attitudes to domestic violence, Clare's law will not help, and could be dangerous. "If a woman asked about my ex-partner, there would be no records against him – but that wouldn't mean they were safe, far from it," she said.

Hollback London - part of a worldwide anti-sexual harassment network that names and shames harassers - are battling to take the hassle from a night out, by involving top night clubs such as Ministry of Sound, Fabric, The OPld Blue Last and Dalston Superstore.

Clubs and bars across the capital have agreed to put up posters telling women to tell staff if they have been groped or harangued. "Groping, bum-slapping, and sexually aggressive behaviour are all too common aspects of night outs in London," she said adding that the "good night out" campaign was "sending a public message that this behaviour won't go unchallenged".