Forced marriage is a crime

Parents who are planning to force their children into marriage will soon face jail if they do not stop the practice.

Prime Minister David Cameron said that forcing anyone into marriage against their will is little more than slavery and will not be tolerated in UK.

This is why the Government has taken decisive action to make it illegal.

According to statistics, the Forced Marriage Unit had been involved in more than 1,400 cases last year. Half of the victims were of Pakistani origin, while 9 per cent were from Bangladesh, 9 per cent from Britain and just 3 per cent from Afghanistan. They include dozens of girls under 15 and a consistent number of older teenagers.

Children charity NSPCC has arousen concern about the fact that a specific criminal law may deter victims from coming forward as they could be afraid of criminalising their family.

However, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced yesterday that victims of forced marriage will be able to decide if their parents are prosecutes and jailed. Moreover, an extra £500,000 of funding will be pumped into a special unit to identify and support victims, especially those who have already been sent abroad.

The Government is also planning to work closely with social workers, teachers and police to make sure any law works in the best interest of those who are affected by forced marriage.

Under the new plan this ‘form of abuse’ will become a criminal offence in England, Wales, and North Ireland.

It is raining Diamonds for the Jubilee!

All Britain is set for a long Jubilee weekend to mark Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.

Public celebrations will be taking place across London, where every key street is bedecked with giant Union flags.

Millions will try to catch a glimpse of the Queen as she takes in the Epsom Derby today, while the biggest event will be the Sunday’s spectacular river pageant on the Thames.

One million people are expected to line the famous river on June 3^rd to watch a flotilla of around 1.000 boats, including the Queen’s specially designed royal barge making its four hours way starting from Battersea Bridge and ending at Tower Bridge. It may be a Jubilee washout as heavy rain is forecast for the day.

Meanwhile Scotland Yard is preparing the biggest royal security operation ever to stop possible protests on Sunday.

Celebrations will follow on Monday, when singers like Elton John and Paul Mc Cartney will perform on the roof of Buckingham Palace in a concert broadcast live by the BBC, while on Tuesday there will be a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

On the same day a massive state procession will take place as the royal family will travel in horse-drawn carriages along a two-mile route, up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square and then into The Mall to mark the end of this spectacular weekend.

The streets will be lined by the Army, Navy and RAF and several million spectators will have the chance to see the royal family appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

All central London will be very crowded from June 1^st to June 5^th and visitors have been warned to stay away from main train and tube stations and plan their journey in advance.

 

Meanwhile, millions of people up and down the UK are gearing up to enjoy the event by throwing either street or house parties and more than 6.500 million roads across the country will be closed to accommodate the diamond parties being held.

According to a survey by Money Supermarket, Britons will spend £823 million celebrating the Jubilee weekend.

However, while the nation is turning red, white and blue, about 2million Britons will escape a chaotic London in favour of popular destinations all over the world.

For further information on special exhibitions all over London visit http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/