SOME 58 people have been rescued from a forced marriage in East Lancashire in the past year, it can been revealed.

Many of the victims - mainly Asian women - were faced with the threat of violence if they tried to resist, police said.

Others became prisoners in their own homes after having to go through with ceremonies against their will.

A specialist team has now been set up by police in East Lancashire which aims to help save many other women by throwing the spotlight on the issues of forced marriage and honour based violence.

Ibrahim Masters, the former chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said forced marriages were “completely unacceptable”.

In 2007 the police community cohesion team in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley dealt with 27 cases of forced marriage.

Pennine division's hate crime and diversity unit, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, dealt with 31 cases.

Sgt John Rigby said around four or five cases of honour-based violence were being referred to his team each week.

Now links are being put in place that will see improved ways for victims to report the crime and there will be a link with the Foreign Office that will see victims who are taken abroad able to be brought back home within 48 hours of reporting the crime.

Forced marriages can see women being treated as little more than a slave, held against their will but often unable to get out of their plight.

An arranged marriage differs because in that case a couple is introduced, usually through their parents, and they have the chance to refuse the wedding.

Mr Masters, who is a member of the Police Authority, said: “Arranged marriages and forced marriages couldn’t be more different.

"Arranged marriages work extremely well. I myself married my wife through an arrangement between our parents and if we did not like each other we would not have married.

“Forced marriages still happen but we cannot turn a blind eye to the problem.

"I abhor the practice but by increasing awareness and working with the victims we can improve the situation.”

Sgt Rigby said: “We have had horror stories where girls are being told they are going on holiday only to find when they arrive in another country that they are being married off.

“We have a good relationship with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and if we know that that is going to happen we can get a girl back out of that country within 24 - 48 hours.

"We are finding more of these cases being reported where a secondary victim is introduced. A wife is brought over from another country and is then being treated shabbily.

“Women's passports and money are taken from them and they often exist almost as slaves.

"After two years their husband must sign their spouse visa in order for them to stay in the country and that is often held over them as blackmail.

"We can help them too."

The new multi-agency group will raise awareness of the problems and will also encourage reporting of abuse and provide support for victims.

Mr Masters, who is a member of the said: “Arranged marriages and forced marriages couldn’t be more different.

"Arranged marriages work extremely well. I myself married my wife through an arrangement between our parents and if we did not like each other we would not have married.

“Forced marriages still happen but we cannot turn a blind eye to the problem.

"I abhor the practise but by increasing awareness and working with the victims we can improve the situation.”