| A Forced Marriage is where one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage, or consent is extracted under duress. Duress includes both physical and emotional pressure. Forced Marriage cannot be justified on religious grounds and every major faith condemns the practice.
It is very important that Forced Marriage is not confused with arranged marriages, a tradition that has operated successfully in many communities, which is where families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage but where the choice whether or not to accept the arrangement remains with the young people. A substantial amount of national guidance in respect of identification and management of Forced
Marriages currently exist, which we are committed to follow in Harrow. Guidance for Social Workers, Police Officers, Education and Health Professionals can be obtained from the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) - Website Download the local Forced Marriage Guidance for Operational Staff - Download
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