'Honour'-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage: Guidance on Identifying and Flagging cases
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance outlines the identification and prosecution of cases involving 'honour'-based abuse and forced marriage. It provides definitions of forced marriage and 'honour'-based abuse, outlines procedures for flagging these cases within the CPS Case Management System, and identifies key offences related to these types of crime. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of proper case handling and data monitoring for accountability and intervention.
Key points
- The definition of forced marriage aligns with the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
- 'Honour'-based abuse refers to violence or intimidation to protect perceived honour.
- Cases should be flagged appropriately in the Case Management System.
- Specialist prosecutors are required for complex cases.
- Data on these cases is monitored for government performance evaluation.
- Prosecutors must ensure proper allocation and flagging of these cases.
Public-interest factors
- Severity of the offences
- Impact on victims
- Community safety
- Protection of vulnerable individuals
- Deterrence of future crimes
- Promotion of justice and accountability
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.