close hide page

Posts Tagged ‘Manchester’

Parents fined for breaching forced marriage order ‘were taking daughter to Pakistan to see dying grandparents’

Parents who tried to take their daughter to Pakistan to see her dying grandparents have been fined after flouting the terms of a forced marriage protection order.

The family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were ‘detained’ by police at the departure gate at Manchester Airport. They were trying to board a flight to Pakistan with their teenage daughter and other family members in July 2015.

Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court heard that the couple were in breach of a forced marriage protection order imposed at Manchester Family Court in March 2015.  However defence lawyers for the family argued that the parents believed the order had been rescinded so the youngster could leave the country of her own free will.

The court heard that her mother had been acting on ‘egregious information’ from the police and social services.

District judge Samuel Goozee said there had been ‘a wholesale breakdown’ by the police, social services and the school in relation to the order.

 

Read More: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/forced-marriage-order-parents-fined-11313484

Documentary lifts the lid on forced marriage and honour crime in Greater Manchester

A documentary about forced marriages in Greater Manchester will be aired on Channel 4 on Wednesday.

Forced Marriage Cops follows Greater Manchester Police investigating the ‘hidden crime’, after forcing someone to marry against their will was made illegal last year.

”The victims of this type of crime are in relationships with the perpetrators and when I say relationships, I mean close relationships, it would be fathers, brothers, extended family, community members, people that they love and trust.

“So they have this dilemma of do I come forward and say something and what are the consequences for the people that I love and respect.”

– DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR NICKY PORTER GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE

The production uncovers the story of 26 year old Ruhksana, seeking police protection after escaping from her father who attacked her for seeing her boyfriend.

Another victim, Sajida, was forced to marry when she was very young.

“17 years ago I was taken abroad to get married to someone I didn’t know properly. I was very young at the time, I was 16.

I was made to marry a person who for the next 13 years of my life physically and mentally abused me.”

– FORCED MARRIAGE VICTIM, SAJIDA

The filmmakers were given access to the biggest case of forced marriage that Greater Manchester Police has encountered, with a family of 15 at risk.

Read More: http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2015-09-29/forced-marriage-cops-channel-4-documentary-airs-tomorrow/

‘Thousands’ at risk from FGM in Greater Manchester

Up to 2,000 girls are believed to be at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Greater Manchester, the area’s police and crime commissioner has said.

Tony Lloyd said the practice was “barbaric” as he campaigned to raise awareness and support victims.

In the past two days, officers intercepted 20 families at Manchester Airport, mostly on flights from Africa.

Police are also investigating cases in Wigan and Bury and have reports of girls at risk in Trafford.

FGM involves procedures that include the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.

Although banned in the UK, thousands of girls are subjected to FGM each year, with Greater Manchester identified as one of six “hotspots” in the UK.

Read More: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-29028799
STAY IN TOUCH
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER