A Criminal Offence?

There is no specific criminal offence of ‘forcing someone to marry’ within England and Wales. There are however several actions that may happen in the process of forcing someone to marry which are criminal offences, such as:
  • Assault: trying to harm someone physically
  • Abduction: taking a person away illegally by lying to them or by violence
  • Kidnap: taking a person away illegally by force, against that person’s will
  • Imprisonment: keeping a person somewhere against their will
  • Rape: having sex with someone against their will
  • Murder: deliberately killing someone
People who commit these crimes – even if they are relatives of the victim – could be prosecuted.

In Need of Legal Advice?


For advice on contacting a solicitor or any information about the legal process, contact the Forced Marriage Unit: 020 7008 0151


Hundreds of young people, particularly girls and young women – some as young as 13 year olds – are forced into marriage each year in Britain. Some are taken overseas to marry whilst others may be forced to marry in the UK.

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