UK Tackling Shame of ‘Honour’ Crimes

Police have vowed to tackle the taboo and mysterious subject of ‘honour’ crimes which can be conducted within ethnic minority circles.

Forced marriage and domestic violence in the Asian community has become an issue in the Teesside area.

Despite Hartlepool escaping the brunt of the problem, police are determined it will not take hold in the town.

A helpline for victims set up three months ago by Hartlepool-based Inspector Helen Eustace and Sergeant Catherine Campbell has already received more than 150 calls – with 28 of those now active cases as they continue to work with the Asian community.

Insp Eustace said: “This line can save lives and give people their lives back. Asian girls are sent abroad to get married as young as five-years-old and come back to school normally. In fact, some of them don’t even know they are married until they get older.

“Then when a girl or woman refuses to get married, or is even sometimes found doing something too Western, like smoking, it breaks a family’s honour, causing shame on the girl and all members of her family.

“So not only are we worried about the in-laws carrying out violence but the very family itself.”

She explained that forced marriages often stem from Indian and Pakistani families where a girl will be sent to Asia, forced to marry a man and then be expected to provide for him when he gets a visa to come to the UK.

Sgt Campbell explained that it leads to statistics such as Asian girls under-25 being three times more likely than a white girl to self harm or commit suicide.

She said: “We have no problem with arranged marriages between two consenting adults.

“It is the forced marriages we target because they break the law and human rights – and can end in serious violence.”

The helpline number is 0800 5999 365.

Source: Hartlepool Mail : 29 February 2008