Ministers are worried that proposed new law would be resented as an intrusion into minority cultures and religions.

Ministers 'ready to ditch ban on forced' marriage'
By James Slack
Home Affairs Editor

MINISTERS went into a humiliating retreat-last night over plans to outlaw forced marriages.

Last year, the Home Office unveiled plans for possible jail terms for those guilty of the practice of making others marry against their will.

But ministers have been unnerved by the findings of a consultation which shows a ban would be unpopular and counter-productive.

They are also worried that it would be `resented as an intrusion into minority cultures and religions'.

Yesterday, they prepared the ground to ditch the idea without losing face. Home Office minister Baroness Scotland said, 'there were already laws which could be used to punish those who force people into marriage'.

Her comments suggest the Government's strategy will be to say it can crack down on perpetrators without-the need for a specific offence. It is due to announce its final decision next month.

Baroness Scotland said: 'In terms of forcing people to get married, quite often a number of offences are committed. Assault, kidnapping, matters of that sort. 'We already have a plethora of offences which people can use in order to make sure this is stopped.'

The predicted climb down was greeted with dismay by campaigners.

Jasvinder Sanghera, who runs a refuge for Asian women in Derby, said she believed more women would come  forward if they were aware there was legislation to help them. She added: 'If we're not going to have a
criminal offence that sits alone in its own right, what are we going to have and what are we going to do to make the existing offences work?'

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