Blackburn solicitors predict more Forced Marriage Protection Orders (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn solicitors predict more Forced Marriage Protection Orders

3:05pm Friday 13th February 2009 in Blackburn

A FIRM of solicitors which helped a 22-year-old woman escape a forced marriage in Pakistan are expecting many other women to seek legal protection.

Watson and Ramsbottom, Blackburn, helped secure Lancashire’s first ever Forced Marriage Protection Order – which stopped the East Lancashire woman’s father from taking her abroad.

The groundbreaking order was granted by a high court judge, sitting at Blackburn County Court.

If the woman’s father breaks the conditions of the order he risks going to prison.

Rachel Horman, partner and head of the domestic violence department at the firm, said: “We think this will be the first of many.

"The ability to make the orders only came in in November and our firm had never done one before, although our staff had received training.

“We are pleased with the successful outcome.

"We hope that once news of the order, and the legal protection it provides, gets out into the community that many other women – and men – realise they don’t have to be forced into a marriage against their wishes.”

• Police stop Blackburn woman's forced marriage