Court helps first Kirklees forced marriage victim

Jun 5 2009 By Anne-Marie Senior

A FORCED marriage has been prevented by law for the first time in Kirklees.

Details of the case are being kept secret to protect the victims.

But today a Huddersfield solicitor confirmed new powers to protect women from being forced into arranged marriages had been used for the first time.

The law was introduced in November 2008 and means family courts can now make a Forced Marriage Protection Order to stop someone being forced into a marriage against their will.

The legislation can also be used to protect someone who has already been forced into marriage, to help remove them from the situation.

The Act sends out a strong signal that forced marriages will not be tolerated.

Those who break the order can be arrested and sent to prison for up to two years.

Helen Thewlis, partner and head of the family law at Ramsdens – which helped secure the first Kirklees order – said: "It is like an injunction order preventing the removal of a person into a forced marriage.

"It gives women protection against these sorts of marriages, which is a huge issue across the country and especially in Kirklees where there is a high Asian community.

"It offers protection to people who really don’t have anywhere to turn and gives them hope in their lives.

"I hope news of the order and the legal protection it provides will make others realise they don’t have to be forced into a marriage against their will."