The government is to consult on making it a criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to force a person to marry against their will.

Earlier this year, the Home Office rejected the idea amid fears that victims might be put off coming forward.

A potential victim, friend or police can apply for an order aimed at protecting an individual through the courts and anyone found to have breached one can be jailed for up to two years for contempt of court, although this is classed as a civil offence.

To force someone into marriage is completely wrong and I strongly believe this is a problem we should not shy away from addressing.

Last year, a unit set up to tackle the problem dealt with 1,700 cases, but many more cases are thought to have gone unreported.

It is a breach of human rights to force someone to marry against their will for family advantage or to protect the perceived notion of a family’s honour.

If the current laws are not enough to prevent forced marriage, then they should be revised. I hope Mrs May will work hard to consult with support groups and victims, in order to determine in what way the law should be improved.

The Abolition of Slavery Act was passed in 1833 but slavery of many different sorts still exists in this country.

There is a big difference between forced and arranged. Forced (which usually includes child abduction/rape) MUST be illegal with very severe prison sentences for those who break the law.

Arranged marriages are with the full consent of the marrying parties.

Coun Salim Mulla, Chair of Lancashire Council of Mosques.