Government consults on making forced marriage a criminal offence

The government has launched a consultation on making forced marriage a specific criminal offence.

The consultation will also cover implementation of the Home Office’s already announced plans to criminalise the breach of Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs).

The orders are a civil remedy under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 aimed at preventing forced marriage and assisting victims where a marriage has already taken place.

There were 339 FMPOs between November 2008 and June 2011, but breach of the orders is not a criminal offence.

Home Secretary Theresa May described forced marriage – which as “an appalling form of abuse”, adding that “perceived cultural sensitivities should not stop us doing more to tackle it”.

The consultation closes on 30 March 2012. The paper can be downloaded here.

The government’s Forced Marriage Unit has meanwhile provided support to more than 1,700 people in 2010.