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Family tried to force boy to get married after agreement was made when he was five

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A teenager is the first male to be given a forced marriage order to protect him against a deal made by his family when he was five-years-old.

The man had received threats for not complying to a pre-arranged marriage according to South Yorkshire Police.

The move has been described as a huge step forward in their efforts to prevent honour-based abuse.

Family tried to force boy to get married after agreement was made when he was five

South Yorkshire Police have made the order. (Picture: Getty)

He is now safeguarded by a protection order, which was also obtained for his three younger siblings.

South Yorkshire Police Detective Inspector Suzanne Jackson said: In instances of honour-based abuse it is often assumed it only happens to girls and women, however, there are also many boys and young men who are victims as well.

The additional protection orders were a preventative tactic, officers said, as it is recognised siblings and family members are at greater risk of honour-based abuse if it has already occurred within a family.

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The criminalisation of forced marriage – under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 – was designed to give victims the confidence to come forward and protect thousands of people each year.

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People convicted under the act can be jailed for up to seven years.

Its understood only a fraction of investigations into forced marriage result in a prosecution and many are dropped because victims are too scared to give evidence against their abuser.

However, campaigners believe many of these cases should result in criminal prosecutions.

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