English and Welsh Police Law Explained
Aug 25, 2026 · 8 min · 8 segments
In today's episode we look at the legislation to protect victims of forced marriage. Today's legislation can be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/12/contents
[siren wailing] Forced marriage.
The main offense is where a person uses violence, threats, or another form of coercion to make someone enter into marriage, and the person knows or reasonably should know that their behavior may cause the victim to marry without free and full consent.
This could include, for example, threatening someone with violence, threatening another family member, or using serious pressure to make them agree to marriage.
The marriage does not need to be legally binding, and subsection 4 makes clear that religious or civil marriage ceremonies are covered.
The section provides additional protection where the victim lacks mental capacity to consent to marriage.
In that situation, the prosecution does not have to prove violence, threats, or coercion.
Any conduct carried out with the purpose of causing that person to enter into a marriage can constitute the offense.
The section also makes it an offense to use deception to take someone outside of the UK with the intention that they will then be subjected to conduct abroad that would amount to a forced marriage.
Importantly, the conduct does not necessarily have to be directed at the victim.
For example, threatening a victim's parent or sibling could potentially amount to coercion if it's done for the purpose of making the victim enter into marriage.
Subsection 3(a) also provides a particularly important protection for children under the age of 18.
A person commits an offense if they carry out conduct for the purpose of causing a child to enter into a marriage before the child's 18th birthday.
Unlike the main offense, this does not require violence, threats, coercion, or deception.
Therefore, simply arranging or taking steps intended to cause a child to marry before turning 18 can fall within this provision.
[siren wailing] Forced marriage.
The main offense is where a person uses violence, threats, or another form of coercion to make someone enter into marriage, and the person knows or reasonably should know that their behavior may cause the victim to marry without free and full consent.
This could include, for example, threatening someone with violence, threatening another family member, or using serious pressure to make them agree to marriage.
The marriage does not need to be legally binding, and subsection 4 makes clear that religious or civil marriage ceremonies are covered.
The section provides additional protection where the victim lacks mental capacity to consent to marriage.
In that situation, the prosecution does not have to prove violence, threats, or coercion.
Any conduct carried out with the purpose of causing that person to enter into a marriage can constitute the offense.
The section also makes it an offense to use deception to take someone outside of the UK with the intention that they will then be subjected to conduct abroad that would amount to a forced marriage.
Importantly, the conduct does not necessarily have to be directed at the victim.
For example, threatening a victim's parent or sibling could potentially amount to coercion if it's done for the purpose of making the victim enter into marriage.
Subsection 3(a) also provides a particularly important protection for children under the age of 18.
A person commits an offense if they carry out conduct for the purpose of causing a child to enter into a marriage before the child's 18th birthday.
Unlike the main offense, this does not require violence, threats, coercion, or deception.
Therefore, simply arranging or taking steps intended to cause a child to marry before turning 18 can fall within this provision.
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