Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has welcomed changes to the law that offer lifelong anonymity to victims of forced marriages.
Amendments to the policing and crime bill mean that victims of forced marriage will be offered anonymity from the moment an allegation is made, a move designed to give more victims the confidence to come forward and make a report.
Tony said:
“Forced marriage is the brutal abuse of a person’s basic human rights – to choose who to love. That such an archaic practice still exists today is simply abhorrent.
“It takes immense courage to report this crime, with many fearing shame and alienation from the support networks they may have previously relied on. We must do all we can to give victims the confidence to report it, and offering anonymity is an important step forward.”
The proposed legislation change will mean that revealing the victim’s name, or information and images that could lead to the identification of the victim, will be against the law. It will apply to print, broadcast and social media.
If you have been affected by forced marriage, find help at www.gmvictims.org.uk/fm
