“My parents are taking me abroad in the holidays — they say it’s a visit but I think they’re going to make me marry someone. I’m scared and don’t know who to tell”

FORCED MARRIAGE (a marriage entered into without one or both parties’ free and full CONSENT, involving coercion) is a form of ABUSE, a SAFEGUARDING/child-protection issue, and a criminal offence (s121 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; and since 27 February 2023, under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, causing a child under 18 to marry is an offence in England and Wales without any need for coercion, including non-legal ceremonies) — distinct from an ARRANGED marriage between consenting adults — and a disclosure (often made indirectly under another pretext) must be taken extremely seriously. The critical principle is the "ONE-CHANCE RULE": the young person may have only one opportunity to disclose and seek help and may not present again (they could be taken abroad), so act sensitively but DECISIVELY at this consultation, seeing them ALONE. Essential safeguards: do NOT contact or involve the FAMILY, do NOT use family or community members as interpreters (use a professional interpreter), and do NOT attempt MEDIATION, family counselling or "talking to the parents", or send letters or make calls to the family home — these can place the person at serious risk (The Right to Choose, statutory guidance 2023) (escalation, being taken abroad sooner, harm). Assess risk and safety (imminent travel plans and timing, passport, threats/coercion, prior siblings forced, restriction of freedom, self-harm), reassure them they have done the right thing, and follow local SAFEGUARDING procedures urgently — involving the safeguarding lead and a same-day children’s social care referral (and police if imminent risk; Working Together 2023) — and seek advice from the FORCED MARRIAGE UNIT and specialist support (a Forced Marriage Protection Order under the Family Law Act 1996 can prevent removal), maintaining confidentiality appropriately while acting on the safeguarding duty, documenting carefully, and giving practical safety advice (a safe contact route and code word, a copy of the passport kept safe, emergency contacts, what to do if taken to an airport) and briefly assessing the headaches. The skill is recognising forced marriage, the one-chance rule, NOT involving family/mediation, and urgent safeguarding/FMU referral.