'Honour-based' violence on the rise in Britain, charity warns

Violence against women committed in the name of "honour" is a growing problem in Britain, campaigners warn.

New figures obtained by the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) show that more than 11,000 cases of honour-based violence have been reported in the UK since 2011. These crimes include kidnappings, assault and even murder.

Honour-based violence is committed to protect the perceived reputation of the family or community. It mainly occur in South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African communities, in which a woman's behaviour is seen as central to a family's reputation in society.

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An estimated 5,000 honour killings occur internationally per year, the majority of them in India and Pakistan. Every year, 12 women in Britain are murdered in the name of honour.

The Metropolitan police recorded the highest levels of honour-based violence in the UK, followed by the West Midlands and Bedfordshire forces. But these crimes are a nationwide problem, with every police force in the country reporting incidents of violence.

Campaigners believe that even these figures are not a true reflection of the problem, as such crimes often go unreported because the perpetrators are members of the victim's family.

One woman, in hiding from parents who threatened to kill her because they believe she shamed the family by leaving her abusive husband, told the BBC: "I'm really scared they are going to find me and take me back. If I refuse then they will kill me."

IKWRO is calling for a national strategy to tackle the problem, particularly within the police and education system. "Schools and colleges need to play a vital role in preventing future generations lives be destroyed by honour-based violence," says Diana Nammi, the group's executive director.

Commander Mak Chishty, the National Policing lead on honour-based violence, acknowledged that the police had been guilty of "huge failings" in relation to such crimes in the past, but said significant improvements had since been made. "Honour-based violence is no longer a fringe issue," he said. "I think if we work hard enough at it together, we can start to eradicate this."