Forced marriage

Forced marriage

Legal Protection Options

Forced marriage has been a specific criminal offence in the UK since 2014.

WMP can assist victims in securing legal safeguards:

Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs): These are civil court orders designed to protect adults or children. An FMPO can be used to stop a planned marriage, protect someone who has already been forced into one, or prevent a perpetrator from taking someone abroad.

Criminal Consequences: Violating an FMPO is a serious criminal offence that carries a maximum sentence of up to five years' imprisonment.

Signs a Person May Be at Risk

WMP advises looking out for these warning signs in friends, family, or students:

A sudden lack of control over their own money, phone, or identity documents (like passports).

An unexpected or long trip abroad or not returning from a scheduled holiday.

Strict restrictions on going out, seeing friends, or a sudden change in Behaviour due to intense surveillance by family members. [

West Midlands Police (Non-Emergency): Call 101 or use the online chat service on the West Midlands Police Website. You can ask to speak to an officer specialising in forced marriage and honour-based abuse.

Thank you from Tipton police station.

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Selina Male
(Police, Police Community Support Officer, Tipton)