Should forced marriage be made a criminal offence?

The Home Office is deciding whether to criminalise forced marriage in England and Wales.

In 2011 the Forced Marriage Unit gave support to nearly 1,500 cases of possible forced marriages but the government's most recent estimate puts the number of cases at between 5,000 and 8000, with many going unreported.

Forced marriage often leads to other crimes including coercion, physical and emotional abuse, rape and even murder.

However, on its own it is only considered a civil offence in England and Wales.

Shay Grewal asks if making forced marriage a criminal offence would help girls at risk.

BBC Inside Out London was broadcast on Monday, 5 March and is available nationwide for seven days thereafter.