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LONDON, ENGLAND, October 27, 2004: In an indirect move to curb forced marriages within the Asian community in Britain, the country’s Foreign and Home Offices have decided to raise the minimum age for such marriages from 16 to 18. This tough approach is not aimed at arranged marriages per se, but more against such relationships being promoted and encouraged within the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The measures, to be announced on Wednesday, coincide with a Commons debate on domestic violence laws, reports The Telegraph . Ministers in charge of these two offices are also considering making it a criminal offence to arrange a forced marriage. The Home Office is amending immigration law to increase the minimum age for marriage entry clearance outside the EU from 16 to 18. Immigration rules were changed earlier this year to prevent under-18s sponsoring a husband or wife to come to Britain from outside the European Union. However, the new immigration rules will apply to all non-EU marriages, whether forced, arranged or mutually agreed. An additional entry clearance officer is to be posted to Islamabad in Pakistan to help girls who find themselves in difficulties.

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