The Home Office announced that the age at which a person could sponsor – or be sponsored as – a spouse would be increased in order to remove young people from parental pressure to marry.
Other measures to be introduced include: a requirement that all sponsors register their intention to marry overseas before they leave the UK, and the power to revoke leave to remain where there is evidence that the marriage route has been abused.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “Forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and, in extreme cases, unlawful imprisonment and rape – it has no place in our society. That is why the government is determined to do everything it can to stamp it out and to ensure that victims receive the help and support they need.”
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