On Monday (16th June) forcing a person into a marriage was made a criminal offence and the Trust has received safeguarding advice from police colleagues on what to do if you suspect someone may be a victim.
Hundreds of people in the UK, some as young as 7 and old as 87, are forced into marriage each year, with 82% of victims being female.
The warning signs of forced marriage can include:
This list is not exhaustive.
Practitioners may only have one chance to speak to a potential victim of forced marriage and therefore may only have one chance to save a life – so police have also provided guidance on what to do if that ‘one chance’ arises.
If you are worried about a patient or would like more information, please contact the Trust’s safeguarding team at eoeasnt.eoe-safeguarding@nhs.net or by phone 01234 243267.