Forced/arranged marriage

A Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO ) protects persons from being forced into marriage without their free and full consent and protects persons who have been forced into marriage without such consent.

Under the Forced Marriage legislation, Scotland's Sheriffs may issue a civil FMPO following an application made by the protected person, a relevant 3^rd party (police or local authority) or any other person with the leave of the court.

A FMPO is unique to a victim's needs and contains legally binding restrictions, prohibitions, requirements and other terms designed to protect them. FMPO 's aim to protect the person who has been, or is being, forced into marriage.

FMPO 's are civil orders with legally binding requirements to protect a person at risk. Any person who, knowingly and without reasonable excuse, breaches a forced marriage protection order commits a criminal offence.

More information can be found at Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline website.

Details of other organisations who will be able to offer help and support are:
Childline - 0800 1111
National Missing Persons Helpline - 0500 700 700
Refuge 24 hour National Crisis Line - 0808 2000 247
Asian Family Counselling Service - 0208 813 9714
Victim Support - 0800 160 1985

"A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both parties do not (or, in the case of some adults with learning or physical disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and duress is involved. Duress includes both physical and emotional pressure. It is very different from an arranged marriage, where both parties give their full and free consent to the marriage''

Forced marriage is a criminal offence in Scotland, legislation in place criminalises :

• The act of forcing someone to marry without their full and free consent using threats, violence or other forms of coercion.

• The act of using deception with the intention of causing a person to leave the UK with the intention of forcing that person to marry.

• Where a person lacks the capacity to consent, any conduct carried out for the purpose of causing the victim to marry, whether or not it amounts to violence, threats or any other form of coercion.

Forced marriage is very different from an arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage both parties give their full and free consent to the marriage.

More information can be found at Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline website.

Useful Numbers:

UK Asian Women's Centre: 020 8961 6549/ 5701
Women's Aid National Help Line: 0808 2000 247
Forced Marriage Unit: 020 7008 0151
Childline - 0800 1111
Refuge 24 hour National Crisis Line: 0808 2000 247
Reunite: 0116 2556 234
Victim Support 0800 160 1985

Immediate Risk/Danger

If there is an immediate risk/danger to you or someone else always phone 999. The police will ensure that any incident reported is met with an appropriate response. The priority for police officers attending is the safety and well-being of the victim, their family and any other person present.

Seek support from Victim Support and Advocacy Services

If you feel you are unable to make a report to Police for whatever reason, you can seek support and advice from victim support and advocacy services who focus on reducing risk to and improving safety.

Contact the Forced Marriage Unit

If you're trying to stop a forced marriage or you need help leaving a marriage you've been forced into a trained professional will give you free advice on what to do next.

They can also help you:

• find a safe place to stay
• stop a UK visa if you've been forced to sponsor someone

Forced Marriage Unit (FMU ):

fmu @fco.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7008 0151
From overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Out of hours: 020 7008 1500 (ask for the Global Response Centre)

Forced marriage abroad

Contact the FMU if you think you're about to be taken abroad to get married against your will. Contact the nearest British embassy if you're already abroad.

If someone you know is at risk

Contact the FMU if you know someone who's been taken abroad to be forced into marriage.

Give as many details as you can, for example:

• where the person has gone
• when they were due back
• when you last heard from them

The FMU will contact the relevant embassy.

If they're a British national, the embassy will try to contact the person and help them get back to the UK if that's what they want.

More information on victim support and advocacy services can be found on the Police Scotland website

Useful Numbers:

UK Asian Women's Centre: 020 8961 6549/ 5701
Women's Aid National Help Line: 0808 2000 247
Forced Marriage Unit: 020 7008 0151
Childline - 0800 1111
Refuge 24 hour National Crisis Line: 0808 2000 247
Reunite: 0116 2556 234
Victim Support 0800 160 1985