Consuls asked to be alert to forced marriage victims

Carla Thomas, FCO Joint Head of the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), raised consuls awareness to the hidden crime of forced marriage at a recent meeting.

As an offence that affects dual nationals, Ms Thomas said the FMU was keen to work with consuls and their governments to tackle the issue. She also invited consuls to attend workshops to learn more about forced marriage, what to look out for and what measures to take if confronted with a case of forced marriage in the UK.

Outlining warning signs, Ms Thomas said consuls should look out for individuals applying for a visa with no knowledge of travel plans or a person applying for a spouse visa with very little knowledge of their partner. A youngster applying for a long-term visa during term time should also ring alarm bells, she added