New laws coming into force which criminalise forced marriages punishing perpetrators with seven years imprisonment are undoubtedly needed as I have personally witnessed at first hand the damage this indefensible abuse of human rights can cause to families.

Indeed, a local solicitor confirmed this when she regrettably explained on local radio that she meets at least one victim per week in her Great Harwood practice.

I welcome the new legislation with some reservations as obviously it could deter victims from coming forward because they do not want to see parents or other family members jailed.

I firmly believe that my concerns could be alleviated if the local Council of Mosques, whose silence has been deafening on the issue, endorsed and supported this new Act of Parliament.

Jim Oldcorn Ridgeway, Great Harwood