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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron revisiting forced marriage crime plans | David Cameron revisiting forced marriage crime plans |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government is to consult on making it a criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to force a person to marry against their will. | The government is to consult on making it a criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to force a person to marry against their will. |
| Earlier this year the Home Office rejected the idea amid fears victims might be put off coming forward. | Earlier this year the Home Office rejected the idea amid fears victims might be put off coming forward. |
| In a speech David Cameron also announced plans to make it a criminal offence to breach orders imposed by the courts to prevent forced marriages taking place. | |
| This already happens in Scotland. | This already happens in Scotland. |
| Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. | Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. |
| A potential victim, friend or police can apply for an order aimed at protecting an individual through the courts and anyone found to have breached one can be jailed for up to two years for contempt of court, although this is classed as a civil offence. | A potential victim, friend or police can apply for an order aimed at protecting an individual through the courts and anyone found to have breached one can be jailed for up to two years for contempt of court, although this is classed as a civil offence. |
| The prime minister wants that changed, as well as a re-examination of proposals to create a specific criminal offence covering the act of trying to force someone into marriage. | The prime minister wants that changed, as well as a re-examination of proposals to create a specific criminal offence covering the act of trying to force someone into marriage. |
| In his speech, Mr Cameron said: "Forced marriage is little more than slavery. | |
| "To force someone into marriage is completely wrong and I strongly believe this is a problem we should not shy away from addressing because of some cultural concerns." | |
| Last year a unit set up to tackle the problem dealt with 1,700 cases, but many more cases are thought to have gone unreported. | Last year a unit set up to tackle the problem dealt with 1,700 cases, but many more cases are thought to have gone unreported. |
| 'Hard to prove' | 'Hard to prove' |
| The government says it is a breach of human rights to force someone to marry against their will for family advantage or to protect the perceived notion of a family's honour. | The government says it is a breach of human rights to force someone to marry against their will for family advantage or to protect the perceived notion of a family's honour. |
| However, in July the Home Office dismissed calls by the home affairs committee to make it an offence as ministers said it would be hard to prove and could have a negative effect on victims. | However, in July the Home Office dismissed calls by the home affairs committee to make it an offence as ministers said it would be hard to prove and could have a negative effect on victims. |
| Mr Cameron will now ask Home Secretary Theresa May to consult on criminalising forced marriage by working with support groups to ensure that such a move does not deter victims from coming forward. | Mr Cameron will now ask Home Secretary Theresa May to consult on criminalising forced marriage by working with support groups to ensure that such a move does not deter victims from coming forward. |
| Mr Cameron announced tougher visa rules to weed out "bogus" marriages and other immigration abuses. | |
| He also called for relatives joining their families in the UK to speak English and have enough cash to live on. | |
| He added that changes to the UK citizenship test are being planned to include questions about British history. | |
| Mr Cameron said the government wants to prevent immigrants becoming a burden on the taxpayer and dependant on welfare and is considering forcing some applicants to pay financial bonds. | |
| The prime minister added: "Of course in the modern world, where people travel and communicate more easily than ever before and where families have connections all across the globe, people do want to move to different countries to be with loved ones. | |
| "We all understand this human instinct. But we need to make sure - for their sake as well as ours - that those who come through this route are genuinely coming for family reasons, that they can speak English, and that they have the resources they need to live here and make a contribution here - not just to scrape by, or worse, to subsist on benefit." | "We all understand this human instinct. But we need to make sure - for their sake as well as ours - that those who come through this route are genuinely coming for family reasons, that they can speak English, and that they have the resources they need to live here and make a contribution here - not just to scrape by, or worse, to subsist on benefit." |