May hails new law on forced marriages

Forced marriage is “a tragedy for each and every victim”, Home Secretary Theresa May said as a new law outlawing the practice came into effect.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Jun 2014, 05:50 BST

From today forcing someone into marriage in England and Wales will carry a maximum seven year jail sentence under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The Government hopes the law change, with also criminalises forcing a British national into marriage outside the UK, will protect thousands of people.

Mrs May said she was “proud” of the UK’s role as a “world leader” in combating the crime, saying: “Forced marriage’s nature means many cases go unreported.

“I am proud to say the UK is already a world-leader in the fight to stamp out this harmful practice with the Government’s Forced Marriage Unit working hard to tackle this practice in the UK and overseas.”