Forced marriage is marriage without the consent of one/both parties which is legally recognised as a form of domestic violence that primarily affects women and girls in the UK. Forced Marriage Protection orders (FMPOs) are civil injunctions designed to prevent forced marriage and protect its victims/survivors. Although approximately 200‒250 FMPOs have been granted each year in England & Wales since 2014, little is known about their use and their potential impact on victims/survivors. Developing an understanding of these factors will positively contribute to practice, policy and academic scholarship.

In partnership with five police forces, this mixed-method study entails: 1) collating existing data on FMPOs; 2) analysing case law; 3) mapping data from forced marriage reports to police; 4) examining policing practices using police case files; and 5) exploring perspectives and experiences of victims/survivors and professionals using life-history and semi-structured interviews respectively.

Dissemination from this research will facilitate evidence-based change to improve practice in the judiciary, police and other agencies that encounter forced marriage, and inform policy debates on FMPOs and international policy transfers at a time of increasing interest in FMPOs.

The data collection for this project is ongoing; we will post updates on our findings and publications in due course.