Between 2021 and 2025, the UK's Forced Marriage Unit received referrals for at least 100 children aged 12 or younger. notably, 27 of these individuals were five years old or under.
The rise of focred marriages with no overseas element
Forced marriages occurring entirely within the United Kingdom have seen a significant increase in recent years. According to Home Office data, 58 cases in 2025 had no overseas element, accounting for 14 percent of the total reported cases. This represents a sharp upward trend compared to 2023, when only 10 cases—representing just 4 percent of the total—were identified as having no connection to another country.
This shift suggests that forced marriage is increasingly a domestic safeguarding issue rather than one strictly tied to international migration. As the report states, the trend highlights that these practices can and do take place entirely within the borders of the UK, necessitating a focus on local community intervention and domestic law enforcement.
The 27 children aged five or under
The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) has processed referrals for a significant number of very young children during the five-year period spanning 2021 to 2025. Of the at least 100 children aged 12 or younger referred to the unit, 62 were aged ten or below, and 27 were aged five or under. The Home Office clarified that a referral does not automatically confirm a marriage has occurred, but rather indicates that details have been provided regarding a potential or suspected case.
These referrals can be triggered by a wide range of actors, including police officers, social services, and education professionals. This comes at a time when legal protections have tightened; in 2023, the legal age of marriage in England and Wales was raised from 16 to 18. despite these legislative changes, the presence of toddlers in the FMU referral data underscores the extreme vulnerability of the youngest members of society.
Dame Jasvinder Sanghera’s warning about "missing" students
Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, a charity founder and survivor of forced marriage,has warned that the true scale of this crisis may be much larger than official figures suggest. She noted that some children may be promised to a partner from birth,with the actual marriage occurring much later in life. this creates a long-term risk where children may simply disappear from the education system without proper investigation.
Sanghera expressed particular concern that children might be removed from school rolls without authorities asking where they have gone. Furthermore, she highlighted a common tactic used by perpetrators to avoid scrutiny: accusing interveners of racism. By claiming that "cultural sensitivity" requires authorities to look the other way, perpetrators can effectively shield themselves from safeguarding interventions.
The Home Office's refusal to disclose the youngest child's age
The Home Office has declined to release the specific age of the youngest person referred to the FMU during this five-year period. Officials stated that disclosing such a specific detail could compromise the identity of the individuals involved or deter others from coming forward with information. this decision leaves several critical questions unanswered for advocates and policymakers.
It remains unclear how many cases are being missed entirely because they never reach statutory services, or how many children are being lost to the system as they transition between school years. additionally, the lack of transparency regarding the youngest victims makes it difficult to assess the exact level of risk facing the most vulnerable children in the UK.
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