Forced marriage criminalisation in England and Wales
Forced marriage became a specific criminal offence in England and Wales on 16 June 2014. The offence was created by section 121 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The legal change followed a government consultation and an announcement on 8 June 2012 that forcing someone to marry would be made a criminal offence. The legislation received Royal Assent in March 2014 and the new offence came into force that June.
Freedom Charity’s campaigning
Freedom Charity was among the organisations campaigning publicly against forced marriage and working to raise awareness with young people, professionals and the wider public.
When the offence came into force, GOV.UK quoted Freedom Charity founder Aneeta Prem welcoming criminalisation and saying: “Everyone should have the freedom to choose.”
The legal change was the result of a wider public and parliamentary process involving government consultation, Parliament, victims and survivors, charities, campaigners and frontline agencies. Freedom Charity’s role should be understood as part of that wider effort rather than presented as a single organisation or individual changing the law alone.
#Freedom2Choose
Freedom Charity used the message #Freedom2Choose in public-awareness work on forced marriage and the right to choose whom, when or whether to marry. Campaign films and school resources formed part of that wider prevention work.
What the law does
The current forced-marriage offence covers coercive conduct intended to cause a person to enter a marriage without free and full consent. The law also covers causing a person who lacks capacity to consent to enter a marriage, and current legislation includes protections relating to children and overseas conduct.
For the current legal position, use the Government’s forced marriage guidance rather than relying on an older campaign article.
Need help?
If you are worried about forced marriage, use Freedom Charity’s current helpline page for contact details and statutory or specialist fallback services. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Forced marriage to be made a criminal offence — 8 June 2012
- GOV.UK: Forced marriage now a crime — 16 June 2014
- Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, section 121
Reviewed 21 September 2026.