Ministers are working to make the legal definition of “honour”-based abuse clearer. This change is aimed at increasing the detection of offenders and protecting women and girls from violence and coercion, forming part of Labour’s plan to reduce violence against women and girls.
The updated law is expected to improve public services’ response to “honour”-based abuse in England and Wales. Teachers, police officers, social workers, and healthcare staff will be trained to recognize the signs of such abuse and to provide better support for victims. An awareness campaign will encourage these victims to come forward.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, stressed that all forms of “honour”-based abuse are criminal acts that can devastate lives and should not be confused with any notion of “honour”. She pointed out that for too long, these offences have been misunderstood, leading to victims not receiving the support they need.
The changes include the National Centre for Violence against Women and Girls collaborating with the police to improve risk assessments for “honour”-based abuse offenders. Additionally, the Home Office will pilot a study to determine the prevalence of this crime.
Emma James, the national policing lead for “honour”-based abuse, emphasized the complexity of this crime because it often occurs within community or family networks. This complexity makes it difficult for victims to come forward due to fear of further threats, violence, and isolation. She stressed the importance of close collaboration between policing and other agencies to identify and protect victims from the beginning.
Recent statistics showed a 60% increase in recorded “honour”-based abuse offences in England and Wales in two years, which may be due to more victims coming forward and political polarization.
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/aug/26/uk-to-clarify-definition-of-honour-based-abuse-in-drive-to-cut-violence-against-women-and-girls
