VICTIMS of forced marriages will soon be offered help and advice at pioneering drop-in surgeries.

Community body Practical Solutions is also offering advice and information to those responsible for forcing Asian youngsters into marriage in a bid to tackle the problem.

A conference held for the first time at Ewood Park, Blackburn, today, welcomed members of the community to discuss the issue and the pilot surgeries which are expected to be launched in February at Bangor Street Community Centre, Blackburn.

It is hoped the project, which is the first of its kind in the UK, will be a source of help for people across East Lancashire and the North West.

The project, which has been endorsed by Blackburn MP Jack Straw and is led by Mussurut Zia, who had worked with Lancashire police on issues of forced marriage and honour-based violence, comes as the law in relation to forced marriages has changed.

The new law now means anyone convicted of trying to force someone into marriage could be jailed for up to two years and a victim, friend or police can apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order which if breached will be dealt with by the criminal justice system.

Mr Straw said: “It is a great initiative by Mussurut and her colleagues.

“Forced marriages problems that I have to deal with are often with the Pakistani heritage community and that is reflected in national figures.

“But it is not confined to the Muslim communities, it is quite an issue in the Sheikh communities.

“The problem is families go into denial and pretend to themselves it isn’t going on.

“Forced marriages is an issue above all for the older generation of Pakistani men to deal with and it has to be told in mosques and in the home.

“It will start to cause the most serious crisis of confidence in the community and for the community.”

Mussurut Zia, who has been supported by Lancashire Police’s Forced marriage Unit, said: “I will be on hand to offer help and advice.

“The surgeries are for everybody from the perpetrators to the victims. People can speak to myself and to Sheikh Suhail Master anonymously and we are hoping older people in the community will attend to share some of their concerns.

“We recognise it is not a major issue but it is an issue nonetheless. Let us work together and not lose our children.”

The details of the drop-in centres will be announced in the new year.