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UK government announces crackdown on ‘honour’-based violence
The UK government is implementing new measures to crack down on ‘honour’-based abuse.
Date: 1st September 2025 | Author: Con Enzler
New statutory guidance
A new crackdown on ‘honour’-based abuse has been announced by the UK government, with new measures aimed at protecting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
The new initiatives include the introduction of a legal definition of ‘honour’-based abuse and new statutory guidance to help police, social workers and other frontline staff better support victims.
It’s part of the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls.
What is ‘honour’-based abuse?
‘Honour’-based abuse is a form of domestic abuse motivated by the abuser’s perception that a person has brought or may bring ‘dishonour’ or ‘shame’ to themselves, their family or their community.
While it can be difficult to identify, it often centres around the idea of controlling people to make them behave in certain ways or subscribe to certain beliefs. This can take many forms, including:
- Domestic abuse
- Child marriage
- Forced marriage
- Virginity testing
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
How common is ‘honour’-based abuse in the UK?
In the year ending March 2024, 2,755 ‘honour’-based abuse-related offenses were recorded by the police in England and Wales.*
The plan also includes a pilot prevalence study to understand the true scale of the crime and a community awareness campaign to encourage victims to come forward.
Teachers, police, social workers, and healthcare professionals will receive more training to help them spot the signs of abuse and respond appropriately.
The right support at the right time
This crackdown is a vital step in addressing a crime that often forces victims into an impossible choice between their family and their safety.
‘Honour’-based abuse is a hidden crime and for many young victims, the only way to escape is to run away from home and separate themselves from their families.
This is an incredibly difficult and dangerous choice, often leaving them isolated, without support, and at risk of further harm.
Railway Children Youth Practitioner Amelia said:
“We’ve had some cases of young people where there were possible questions around forced marriage. This highlights a need for us to be culturally aware, professionally curious and ensure vulnerable young people have access to the right support at the right time.
“Children who are in danger of ‘honour’-related abuse are at high risk of family separation or becoming estranged from their family, which presents an added vulnerability for these young victims.”
*“Statistics on so called ‘honour-based’ abuse offences, England and Wales, year ending March 2024”, UK Home Office, 2024.
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