National Forced Marriage helpline

On April 11, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker launched a new national helpline for victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence.

The helpline called ‘The Honour Network’ is part funded by the Forced Marriage Unit and run by the charity Karma Nirvana. It is staffed by survivors offering emotional and practical support.

The ACPO lead on Honour Crime, Commander Steve Allen, welcomed the launch as a way of providing support and practical help to people experiencing honour based violence.

The joint Foreign and Commonwealth/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit was set up in 2005 and deals with 5,000 enquiries and 400 cases per year.

The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act will be implemented in the latter part of this year. The Act will provide the Courts with powers to make Forced Marriage Protection Orders to stop someone from forcing someone into marriage. Where a forced marriage has already taken place, the Act will provide Courts with the power to protect the victim and help remove them from that situation. The Act will also put guidelines produced by the Forced Marriage Unit for organisations working with forced marriage victims on a statutory footing.

For more information please see the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit website at www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage