Honour-based abuse cases soar to record high as victims face forced marriage and genital mutilation

The Home Office figures record a significant rise in rates of forced marriage and female genital mutilation, among other offences, in the year ending in March. Under the police and Crown Prosecution Service definition, honour-based abuse encompasses violence, threats, intimidation and coercion carried out to defend the perceived honour of an individual, family or community. Police forces across England and Wales logged a record 3,145 honour-based abuse offences over the past 12 months.