A TEACHER'S union in the UK has warned the government not to introduce measures that would make staff "criminally responsible" for failing to report a student's alleged forced marriage.
A Home Office consultation is exploring such proposals for teachers, health workers and social workers as ministers seek to crackdown on forced marriages.
Amanda Brown, deputy general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), the UK’s largest teachers' union, said making staff criminally responsible was the “wrong approach.”
She said: “The idea of criminal sanctions does raise the stakes for professionals but without [giving them] the training, knowledge and understanding”.
“We need a longer-term approach, ensuring ... that young people understand they can raise their concerns with their teachers,” Brown added.
The NEU has more than 450,000 members, and it is against any form of mandatory reporting.
Forced marriage became a criminal offence in 2014, but since then there have been only four convictions in England and Wales. This is despite there being an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 forced marriages in the UK every year.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “The consultation was open to everyone and encouraged victims and survivors of forced marriage, those with expertise in the area of forced marriage, and relevant professionals, including those working in social care, education, the police and healthcare to come forward and share their expertise on this crime.
“We will give careful consideration to all the responses received and will publish the findings of the consultation in due course.
“We know that forced marriage is often a hidden crime and so it is essential that everyone knows the law and how to spot the signs, and that victims have the confidence to come forward.”
Damian Talbot