England: prosecutors and police chiefs launch honour crime protocol

Prosecutors and police chiefs have published an honour-based violence/abuse and forced marriage protocol highlighting the complexities of these cases and the barriers victims face in coming forward to report.

The protocol, produced jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) highlights that a number of offences can be committed in the context of honour-based violence/abuse and forced marriage, including common assault, grievous bodily harm, harassment, kidnap, rape, threats to kill and murder.

It also notes that a victim’s family and/or members of their community may go to great lengths to discover their whereabouts once a crime has been reported and that the risks to the victim from their entire family, the offender’s family and the community should be considered – not just the direct risk of the immediate perpetrators on the victim.

According to the CPS, the protocol enables police and prosecutors to quickly understand the action they must take when a crime is reported to the police and referred to the CPS for a charging decision.

Jenny Hopkins, chief crown prosecutor for CPS East of England and lead on vioolence against women and girls said: “This protocol emphasises how important it is for the police and CPS to work together closely, from the outset, to build the strongest possible cases. These cases are complex and the safety of the victim is vital.

“So-called honour-based violence/abuse and forced marriage is increasingly being committed online, usually by victims’ families, extended families and communities. We know that offenders follow a course of conduct which is used to control, coerce, dominate or exploit a victim.

“It is important for police and prosecutors to remember that these cases may involve some of our most vulnerable victims and witnesses who may have the least confidence in the criminal justice process.

“In improving the criminal justice response to these crimes, this protocol is a key step.”