Protection for male victim of forced marriage

A POLICE force has made history by issuing a protection order for their first identified male victim of forced marriage.

South Yorkshire Police described the move as a “huge step forward” in their efforts to prevent “honour-based abuse”.

The force said it issued a forced marriage protection order on the man, 19, after he received threats for not complying to a marriage, to which he had promised his family he would consent when he was just five years old.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Jackson said although the force had issued numerous forced marriage protection orders for girls and women, this case was their first for a male.

She said: “In instances of honour-based abuse it is often assumed it only happens to girls and women; however, there are also many boys and young men who are victims as well.”

Ms Jackson added: “Understandably it can be very difficult for children and victims who often feel unable to report and potentially prosecute their parents.

“However we are determined to ensure we can protect all victims and will utilise different tactical options, such as protection orders via the Family Court, to achieve this.”

The force said it has also obtained protection orders for the teenager’s three younger siblings.

Ms Jackson said she hoped it sent a message to victims that they would take “positive action” to help them.

Last month the parents of a Leeds teenager were convicted of forced marriage after luring her to Bangladesh in a bid to wed her to her first cousin. The 19-yearold endured “physical abuse” as her parents tried to pressure her into going through with the plan.

The Forced Marriage Unit gave advice or support to 1,428 people in 2016 – of whom a quarter were under the age of 17.