The law on forced marriage

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If you or someone you know is in a forced marriage – or being forced to marry – the law in Scotland provides both civil and criminal protection.

Forcing someone into marriage is a criminal offence in Scotland. This includes:

taking someone abroad to force them to marry (whether or not the forced marriage takes place)
marrying someone who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage (whether they're pressured to or not)

The police take forced marriage seriously. They'll investigate your case and will help keep you safe.

However, civil protection through a Forced Marriage Protection Order is also an option. Support organisations can give you help and confidential advice if you want to talk about what to do next.

Disobeying a Forced Marriage Protection Order can result in a sentence of up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to £10,000.

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