Action over forced marriage

MPs were last night handed help guides on how to deal with any cases of forced marriage over the summer — with many families thinking they can get away with it in the holiday period.

The booklet explains the difference between arranged and forced marriages, the motives behind the behaviour and domestic violence.

“The Forced Marriage Case Handling Guide” from the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides information that can also be given to the constituent on how to contact the British High Commission in different countries.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer, who has campaigned against forced marriage for 10 years said: “This time of year can be particularly difficult as girls are finishing their GCSEs or A-Levels and families think they will not be missed.”

Last year, the Home Affairs Select Committee said schools were not doing enough to openly tackle the problems of forced marriage for fear of upsetting parents or the local community.

Instead, the group of MPs said schools should be forced to teach about domestic violence and honour-based crimes.

Oldham Council voluntarily provided information after 14 other areas were asked by ministers to provide information on how many children were “missing” from their schools as part of the inquiry into forced marriages.

Oldham Council stressed although the pupils were classed as missing there was no indication they had been forced to marry.