Support for Victims, Awareness for Partners

Nationally there are approximately 12 reported Honour Killings per year in the United Kingdom. This does not take into account the many people who are taken abroad and do not return and their whereabouts are unknown. This also does not take into account the local school children who are taken abroad for the purpose of marriage and those suffering serious abuse at the hands of their closest family.

Consideration must be given to other offences e.g. threatening behaviour, assault, rape, kidnap, abduction, forced abortion, threats to kill and false imprisonment committed due to so called ‘honour’

National statistics show that South Asian females under the age of 24 are 2 to 3 times more likely to commit suicide than their Caucasian counterparts.

In the Cleveland area there have been a number of female suicides normally by fire and also murders of South Asian women and children.

Due to concerns raised by the local South Asian community and the police, the Choice helpline was set up in November 2007 by Cleveland Police.  However, there is no support provided to victims other than this. The Tees Valley Inclusion Project has been contacted informally by many victims highlighting the gap in current services. There is no other service nationally which provides the support directly to victims and assists them in finding alternative living solutions. We also provide the essential training required to support staff so that they have an understanding of the cultural issues which impact on the wider cohesion of the BME groups across Tees Valley.

Visit our dedicated website www.haloproject.org.uk