Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence

A forced marriage is one that happens without the consent of both people. You have the right to choose who you marry, when you marry or if you marry at all.

Forced marriage is when you face:

• physical pressure to marry, such as threats, physical violence or sexual violence
• emotional and psychological pressure, such as being made to feel like you are bringing shame on your family
• financial pressure, such as taking your wages or not giving you any money

If you think you are being forced into marriage

If you think you are being forced into a marriage, you should call the police on 999. If you are under 18, you can call our Children's Right service on 0800 01542 443.

Report a forced marriage

If you think someone is at risk of being forced into a marriage, you should get advice from the Forced Marriage Unit or the Newham Community Based Domestic and Sexual Violence service. In an emergency call the police on 999.

If you think someone under the age of 18 is at risk of being forced into a marriage, you should tell us immediately using our online form or phone us on 020 3373 4600.

Advice and support

You can get advice and support to stop or leave a forced marriage from the Newham Community Based Domestic and Sexual Violence services on 08081961482 or Government’s Forced Marriage Unit.

Honour based violence (HBV) is a collection of practices, which are used to control behaviour within families and/or communities to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour.

It is often linked to family members who think someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of their culture. 

Honour based violence might be committed against people who:

• become involved with a boyfriend or girlfriend from a different culture or religion
• want to end an arranged marriage
• want to end a forced marriage
• wear clothes or take part in activities that might not be considered traditional within a particular culture.

Women and girls are the most common victims of honour based violence however it can also affect men and boys.

Crimes of ‘honour’ do not always include violence. Crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’ can include:

• threats of or actual violence
• sexual or psychological abuse
• forced marriage
• being held against your will or taken somewhere you don’t want to go.

More information about honour based violence is available on the Metropolitan Police website.

Report honour based violence

If you have been affected by honour based violence, the Metropolitan Police can help you and point you in the right direction of extra support.

Find out more about how the police can help you.

Children and Young People's Service
London Borough of Newham
Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU

020 3373 4600

Newham Community Based Domestic and Sexual Violence services

08081961482

Email us