NEW laws to protect people forced to marry against their will come into force today.

The Forced Marriage Act allows judges to ban a family from contacting the victim or preventing a victim leaving the country if they fear they could be forced to marry abroad.

In a separate move, changes to immigration laws will try to stop young people being forced to marry overseas.

Police and charities say a crucial part of the legislation is that teachers or social workers can refer a case to a judge if they fear a young person is at risk.

An estimated 100 suspected cases were reported in Greater Manchester every year. Seven incidents were reported by teachers worried about pupils.

New Forced Marriage Protection Orders will give courts wide-ranging powers to force families to hand over passports, to prevent people from being taken abroad.

The age at which people can apply for a marriage visa will be raised from 18 to 21 {ndash} and British citizens applying to `sponsor' a foreigner by marrying them will have to declare their intention to marry before they leave the country.

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said the new rules `sent a clear message that we are committed to helping victims and that violence of any kind will not be tolerated'.

Ministers want to avoid the tragedy of Warrington schoolgirl Shafilea Ahmed who died after telling friends of her fears of being forced into marriage.

The 17-year-old vanished from home in Great Sankey in September 2003 and her body was found in the Lake District five months later.

A coroner concluded she had been the victim of a `vile murder' but nobody has ever been charged.

About 400 cases of forced marriage are reported every year and up to a third are understood to come from the north west with the majority involving families from Pakistan, Bangladesh or India.

Oldham reported 36 cases, making it one of 15 `high-risk' areas in the country.

New guidance is being drawn up for council staff in Manchester about what to do if they believe a child is at risk of being forced into marriage.

The Blackley-based Northwards Housing group has recently employed advisers to help tenants concerned about forced marriage.

Labour's Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP, said:

"Today we are standing on the side of vulnerable victims, providing hope to what is often a desperate situation. It is fitting the law comes into force on White Ribbon Day - the White Ribbon Campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working to end men's violence against women.

"As a Labour Government, we urge everyone to pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. This is why the Forced Marriage Act enables anyone to apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order on behalf of a victim, as victims may be unable to protect themselves.

"We are determined to do everything we can to support victims of forced marriage, provide education to prevent others from becoming victims, and pull together all the agencies involved to ensure we work together to safeguard all children and adults. Forced marriage is an appalling and indefensible practice that this Labour Government is working hard to stop. "

Labour's Moss Side Ward Councillr and author Sameem Ali will also be supporting the day, and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness in schools after writing the book ‘Belonging' based on her true life story of being forced into marriage aged just 13.

"I became involved with politics because I wanted to make a difference and thanks to Labour's record the message is clear that violence of any sort against women is not, and never should be, tolerated in a fair society," she said.

"Since coming to power we have been determined to end the suffering of hundreds of thousands of women, through the commitment to specialist domestic violence courts, rape centres and the legislation to stop forced marriages.

"It is fitting that the Forced Marriage Act comes into law today as well, this is one of the steps Labour is taking to end a life of misery for thousands of women, on a day when we are trying to raise awareness of the continued suffering."