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'Honour-based' violence

So called ‘honour-based’ violence is a crime or incident which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of a family and/or community. It is a total abuse of human rights.

There is no honour in so-called ‘honour-based’ violence. It is a collection of practices which are used to control behaviour and exert power within families to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour.

Such practices can happen when offenders believe that someone has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their ‘honour’ code.

‘Honour-based’ violence can include:

• Forced marriage.
• Domestic abuse.
• Dowry.
• Kidnap.
• Forced repatriation.
• Female genital mutilation.
• Acid attacks.
• Blood feuds.
• Honour killings (murder).
• Self-harm, suicide.
• Rape.

There is no ‘typical’ case of ‘honour-based’ violence. It has many different forms and some are interlinked. It exists across all cultures.

The role of the police

In cases of ‘honour-based’ violence, the role of the police is to:

• Identify and reduce the risk to adult and child victims from diverse communities within Thames Valley.
• Effectively investigate all reports of ‘honour-based’ violence.
• Reduce the likelihood of future harm, including homicide, serious injury and acts of violence.
• Assist effective action against offenders so that they can be held accountable through the Criminal Justice system.