A new report has found that there has been 110 forced marriages in Hertfordshire in the last three years.
Between April 2013 and February 2017, Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded more than 100 cases of forced marriages, in which 77 per cent of victims were found to be female.
The findings have been published in a report called Honour Based Violence and Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage: Shaping Services for Priority Victims in Hertfordshire.
The research was conducted by the University of Roehampton and the University of Essex after being commissioned by the police and crime commissioner.
Findings also show that there has been a further 160 crimes that constitute as honour based abuse.
Honour based abuse is an umbrella term used to describe a collection of crimes that may have been committed in the belief of protecting or defending a family or community’s honour and can include forced marriage and even female genital mutilation.
David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “The findings from this report show that these terrible forms of abuse do occur in Hertfordshire and the right steps need to be put in place to deal with them effectively.
“Whilst it is difficult to understand the true impact of these crimes, this study has highlighted areas where additional support and resources are required to assist those affected.
“Actions recommended in the report will be carried out through the Honour Based Abuse subgroup, which sits under the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership.
“I would also like to see more collaboration and joint-working between services so these appalling incidents are responded to immediately and preferably don’t occur at all.”
Samantha Allen, chairwoman for the subgroup, added: “Experience has shown us that issues like HBA, FGM and forced marriage exist in Hertfordshire and it cannot be assumed that they are distant problems for other communities to tackle.
“We welcome this report which is already informing the work of the sub-group, as we work towards a single multi-agency policy that will result in victims receiving a consistent level of support regardless of the where they report the abuse.”
Victims of honour based abused will see additional support brought in next year including at Hertfordshire’s victim care centre in Beacon.