Victims Of Honour-Based Abuse To Receive Stronger Legal Protections Under New Legislation

The UK government has moved to strengthen legal protections for victims of honour-based abuse, introducing a statutory definition and guidance designed to better support victims, improve police responses, and ensure perpetrators can be held accountable.

The changes, brought forward through the Crime and Policing Bill, mark a significant shift in how authorities identify and tackle harmful practices that have long been hidden and misunderstood.

The new legal framework responds to concerns that current systems have failed to protect vulnerable individuals sufficiently, and addresses long-standing calls from campaign groups for clearer laws and more consistent multi-agency working.

A Statutory Definition With Legal Impact

At the heart of the reforms is a statutory definition of 'honour-based abuse', which places a legal anchor on a form of harm linked to notions of dishonour, shame or cultural strictures that can lead to coercive, violent or lethal behaviour. The definition has now been incorporated into law via amendments at the report stage of the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Lords, making it applicable across England and Wales.

Alongside the legal definition, authorities will have the power to issue statutory guidance on honour-based abuse, setting clear professional expectations for police forces, social services, healthcare workers, and other frontline agencies involved in safeguarding.

Home Office figures referenced in the announcement noted that nearly 3,000 honour-based abuse incidents were recorded by police in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025.

Bringing Crimes Out Of The Shadows

Honour-based abuse can take many forms, including physical or psychological violence, honour-motivated killings, female genital mutilation (FGM), and forced marriages, all of which are already criminal offences but may not always be recognised by authorities as being connected by underlying motivations.

Campaigners and charities have long argued that the absence of a clear legal definition has hindered effective intervention, identification of patterns, and coordination between services. One such organisation, Karma Nirvana, has been at the forefront of this push, advocating for statutory clarity since the tragic murder of Fawziyah Javed in 2021, where harmful notions of dishonour compounded domestic abuse before her death.

Natasha Rattu, Executive Director of Karma Nirvana, welcomed the reforms, highlighting that a 'statutory definition is a vital step towards ensuring that police, prosecutors, health professionals and social care services can identify abuse earlier and respond more effectively.'

Government Response And Official Priorities

The statutory reforms were championed by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, who emphasised the importance of tackling these crimes directly. Phillips said:

'There is no honour in 'honour'-based abuse.

'For too long, these devastating crimes have often been misunderstood, and victims badly let down.

'Now we are tackling these crimes head-on and bringing them out of the shadows. Introducing a new definition and important guidance into law will ensure professionals will work together to ensure more victims are protected, and more perpetrators face justice.'

In addition to the statutory definition, the Crime and Policing Bill amendments give public agencies a clear framework for cooperation, such as sharing information and responding consistently to reports of abuse or threat indicators.

Statutory guidance is expected to cover areas including how abuse is identified, prevented, and recorded, giving a more consistent national approach to safeguarding victims.

A Multi-Agency Approach To Safeguarding

The new statutory duties form part of the government's broader Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, which aims to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade. Honour-based abuse falls within this wider strategy, recognising that such harm disproportionately affects women and girls but can involve victims of all genders and ages.

Policing and legal professionals will be expected to have regard to the statutory guidance when exercising their functions, which should help standardise responses across agencies and improve detection and early intervention. This approach acknowledges that many victims struggle to seek help due to coercive control, fear of retaliation, or isolation within communities.