Honour-based violence or abuse (HBV/A) can be characterised as practices used to control the behaviour of individuals to protect supposed cultural and religious beliefs, values and social norms in the name of ‘honour’. In addition to forced marriage (FM) numerous offences can be committed in the context of HBV/A including; assault, harassment, kidnap, rape and threats. Honour crimes have risen by 40% in London over the past 5 years, whilst forced marriages have doubled in the capital over the same period (Halo Project, 2017). Nationwide, there are approximately 12-15 honour based killings every year, whilst the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) recorded 1428 victims in 2016, up from 1220 in 2015. As the HMICs 2015 report The Depths of Dishonour testifies, Police forces have struggled to identify and record instances of HBV/A and appropriately manage and prosecute perpetrators. Indeed, only 3 of 43 forces were recognised as fully prepared for protecting the public from honour based harm.

In response, the Government, police and criminal justice authorities have formulated guidance and measures aiming to improve responses to FM & HBV/A and safeguard potential victims. In December last year the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) launched the HBV/A and FM Action Protocol outlining plans to increase the awareness and expertise of prosecutors. Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance was also updated (Sept, 2016)  to provide teachers with further information on HBV and ensure staff are equipped to spot the signs of such crimes, whilst amendments to the Police and Crime Bill have granted life time anonymity to victims of forced marriage.

However, significant progress is still required to ensure effective first responses to HBV/A and address gaps in law enforcement. Less than half of teachers have been given training to recognise the indicators of forced marriage (ATL, 2017). Furthermore, despite the FMU providing advice and support on more cases than ever before, conviction rates have remained persistently low, with victims of FM often reticent to criminalise family members.

In view of these challenges, this symposium will offer local authorities, police forces, criminal justice bodies, health professionals, schools, colleges and third sector organisations with a timely and invaluable opportunity to collectively strengthen our understanding and response to Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence. It will also provide all stakeholders with a chance to develop strategies for improving the identification and prosecution of these crimes. 

Delegates Will:

• Engage with relevant actors to develop an understanding of the nature, aggravating elements and scale of HBV/A nationally
• Assess how to engage more effectively with communities, increasing the intelligence police and local authorities receive and promoting public confidence
• Analyse how the police can improve the recording and handling of incident and crime data and better liaise with external agencies within both the public and voluntary sectors
• Determine how to ensure effective first responses to instances of FM HBV/A ensuring consistent approaches to risk assessment and the protection of victims
• Consider how teachers can be better equipped to recognise indicators of FM and HBV/A and keep children safe in education
• Develop consistent approaches to partnership working between police, health, social care and education professionals
• Examine how to educate and empower young people at risk from FM or HBV/A
• Scrutinise the benefits of new legislation making it easier to investigate honour killings of UK citizens abroad
• Evaluate how to respond to the perpetration of FM and HBV/A online
• Share evidence based best practice on what works to protect victims of FM and HBV/A and manage perpetrators 

I am pleased to advise you that we offer a 20% early registration discount off the standard delegate rates (subject to type of organisation and terms and conditions) for bookings received by the 4th August 2017. For further details about the symposium, please refer to the enclosed event brochure. Do feel free to circulate this information to relevant colleagues within your organisation.

In the meantime, to ensure your organisation is represented, please book online  or complete and return the attached registration form at your earliest convenience in order to secure your delegate place(s).

Kind regards,

Conference Team
Public Policy Exchange
Tel: 020 3137 8630
Fax: 020 3137 1459