Government urged to rethink new forced marriage law

However, figures obtained under freedom of information reveal that no-one has been charged or prosecuted for an offence under the new legislation in its first year.

Women's aid charities also say they have experienced a significant drop in the number of people coming forward for support - a concern which was raised when the legislation was being considered.

Figures from Shakti Women's Aid, a group which supports black and ethnic minority women, show that the number of forced marriage cases dropped from 24 referrals in 2012-2013 to ten in 2014-15.

Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women's Aid, said: "Scottish Women's Aid has from the beginning opposed the criminalisation approach in the new legislation, given our conviction that it would make disclosure and engagement with support and intervention services even less accessible and attractive for women and young people.

"We therefore are sorry to say we told you so but are not surprised to see a decrease in reports and no prosecutions.

"These figures suggest that the criminalisation of forced marriage has further deterred vulnerable women from coming forward.

"We would call on the Scottish Government to reconsider this legislation, with meaningful consultation with experts working in the field."

Before the legislation was introduced, forcing someone to marry against their will was not a criminal offence in Scotland but courts had the power to issue protection orders to those at risk, which if breached could carry a two-year prison sentence.

However, just a small number of these orders have been granted since they were introduced in 2011.

The new law makes it a criminal offence for someone to use violence, threats or any other form of coercion to force another person into a marriage and carries a maximum custodial sentence of seven years.

Shakti Women's Aid manager Girijamba Polubothu said that even the women who are still coming forward for help do not want to report it to the police.

"We are not entirely certain why the cases we are getting has dropped", she said. "But they have fallen by around half.

"Most women tell us that they don't want to get their family into trouble.

"Women are still coming to us for help - but they don't want to take action. They know what their options are, but don't want to report it to the police. Instead, they are looking for emotional support from us.

"They are thinking of the honour of their family and the risk to themselves."

She added that the group is currently supporting three women experiencing forced marriage - including one case where the woman has already wed.

Ms Polubothu added: "One woman who we are supporting has been forced into marriage, but did not want to criminalise her family. Instead, she went through with the marriage, and is living with the perpetrator, and we are helping her emotionally."

The legislation brings Scotland in line with the Council of Europe's convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Forced marriage is an indefensible practice that is recognised across Scotland and the UK as a form of violence against women and men and a serious abuse of human rights. The Scottish Government is committed to protecting those at risk of abuse and forced marriage.

“Criminalisation of forcing a person into marriage provided an additional layer of protection to victims from a practice that is often accompanied by physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional abuse. It does not replace the 2011 Act but works alongside it to reinforce the message that this practice is wrong.

“We work closely with our stakeholders including Scottish Womens Aid and Shakti who have helped develop guidance and delivered a programme of multi-agency training for professionals earlier this year. They are also participating in independent research into Forced Marriage in Scotland commissioned earlier this year.”