VICTIMS of forced marriage in Lancashire are receiving more protection than ever before thanks to police and other agencies working in partnership to better identify those at risk.

Lancashire Constabulary usually receives between four and 10 enquiries per month from victims or friends of potential victims concerned about forced marriage. However, in the past six months the number has dramatically increased and in one month recently 33 cases were received and dealt with.

New national guidelines have been launched today to help police and other frontline workers work more closely together to protect children and adults at risk of forced marriage.

However, police in Lancashire have already been working closely with professionals such as healthcare staff, the Lancashire Domestic Violence Partnership, social services and teachers for a number of years to ensure victims of forced marriage receive the best possible help from all agencies.

Lancashire Constabulary currently has specialist teams dealing with the issue of forced marriage in every division in the county as well as outreach workers out in the community. Anecdotally, the outreach workers will deal with five enquiries a week from people wanting to receive advice about forced marriage or honour based violence.

In February this year, the force successfully applied for the first ever Forced Marriage Protection Order in Lancashire to safeguard a 22-year-old East Lancashire woman.

The new legislation was brought into force on November 24 last year to protect victims of forced marriage and prevent others from the same fate.

Also this year, a Blackburn woman who kept her three daughters-in-law imprisoned in her home was prosecuted following a police investigation.

Naseebah Bibi, 64, of Pringle Street, was found guilty of false imprisonment after an eight day trial and was jailed for seven years. The women, who had been subject of an arranged marriage in Pakistan, were all brought to Blackburn where they were forced to carry out household duties such as sewing and cleaning.

Deputy Head of Public Protection, Detective Chief Inspector Justin Srivastava said: "During the past six months we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of people contacting us about forced marriages which suggests that victims feel more confident in reporting their situation to police and believe that they will be offered support and advice.

"Recent success stories such as the granting of the first forced marriage protection order in Lancashire have given hope that there are solutions and victims will be protected to prevent an unwanted marriage. They also serve to highlight the extent to which we will bring perpetrators to justice and end this abuse.

"These new guidelines have been issued now as summer is historically a busy time for the front line professionals and the Forced Marriage Unit with the holiday season underway. They provide advice on what frontline professionals should do to ensure cases are dealt with seriously. Our priority is the victim and making sure they are out of harm's way.

"We have already set a number of standards for our partner agencies and we cannot have made the progress we have already made without them. Whether the concerns are raised in a doctor's surgery, nursing setting, in school or a police station, the same package of support and advice will be delivered to the victim.

"It is absolutely critical we work together in partnership to ensure all victims of forced marriage receive sympathetic, effective and joined up support."