A special government unit has dealt with 1,000 cases since 2000

Sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office, the Met Police event in west London, looked at improving support.

Police say they are contacted by women who fear being forced to wed or those in forced unions suffering violence.

The guidelines take into account new legislation on domestic violence.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, who is attending the event, said the disincentives for young women in particular to come forward were "very real".

'Troubling my children'

One woman, who was forced into a marriage at the age of 14, told BBC News: "I was forced into this arranged marriage when I was just a baby to a man who was an animal.

"He is still controlling and troubling me and my children even now and this is 15 years ago."

The Asian Y Stop Project, which runs a central London hostel for the victims of forced marriages, said of the 50 women referred to them in the past 10 months, they only had resources to help 15.

Lesley Taylor, chief prosecutor at Sierra Leone's Special Court, will also address the event ahead of a series of trials relating to women kidnapped and forced into marriage during the country's civil war.

In October 2004 government officials said a special unit within the Foreign Office had dealt with almost 1,000 cases of forced marriage since it was set up in 2000.

It had also rescued and repatriated to the UK 70 young people a year from overseas.

Although the issue was often assumed to affect only women, 15% of cases identified by officials involved men and boys.

The conference took place at Kensington Town Hall, west London.

Have you or anyone you know experienced forced marriage or so-called "honour" violence? Send us your comments using the form at the bottom of the page.

Your comments:

Violence against women is endemic in all ethnic groups Kaz, Briton in NJ, USA

Almost half the women killed in Britain are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. Clearly, the excuse of male "honour" is not simply confined to one ethnic group, nor to forced marriage. Let us be very clear that forcing a person into a marriage is morally repugnant and must be stopped, but that violence against women is endemic in all ethnic groups, and must likewise be stopped.
Kaz, Briton in NJ, USA

These forced marriages, unfortunately, still happen and cases are well known in almost all Asian communities in the UK. It is known but not spoken of. Although there are avenues of help available for those who have been forced into marriage, these are not always sought due to the 'dishonour factor'. It is ironic that these marriages happen in the first place due to dishonour, yet it is also dishonourable for that person to divorce or annul the marriage! Luckily, the second, and successive generations, who have been brought up in this country understand fully well that these marriages are completely unacceptable, and have made a stand to stop it. I have known many friends who have caused major friction within the family because of their refusal to allow their siblings to get married in such a way. However due to the backward mindsets that still prevail in the minds of the older generations, and the influence they hold in our communities, I'm afraid that such marriages are likely to carry on but help is out there.
Naz Miah, South Wales

As a Sikh woman who had an arranged marriage that I was free to choose, I don't know anyone of my acquaintance that has suffered from a forced marriage or 'honour' violence. But that's because I come from an educated family who would never treat women in this way. Only backward insular families, who cling on to their 'traditions' with an almost pathological fear of integrating with British culture, would entertain the idea of forced marriages. Until people are willing to change their beliefs this will continue. Education is key.
Monica, London

"Honour" - I would call it "shame" Paulo Castro Garrido, Lisbon, Portugal

When I was living in northern England, I was living inside a Asian/Muslim majority area. Women screaming was a daily recurrence and one could hear their screams from the streets. I believe most of this women were forced into marriage when children or teenagers. "Honour" - I would call it "shame" - the violence should come to an end.

I believe the British government is more worried about respecting the ethnic minorities than obliging them to fully integrate in the British society, according to British traditions and way of life.

Although we, in Portugal, do not have an Asian community as large as in the UK, our Asian community is fully integrated in the Portuguese Society and live according to our traditions and way of life. And I have never heard about forced marriages and "honour" violence in Portugal. I believe the only way to end forced marriages and "honour" violence, is to make them see they must live, the way we Europeans do.
Paulo Castro Garrido, Lisbon, Portugal

Paulo Castro Garrido - First of all Islam gives women the freedom of choice when it comes time for them to marry. To blame the religion is just plain ignorance. I converted to Islam any years ago and have lived in a good number of Muslim countries both in Asia and in the Middle East and in villages and in more urban cities. I have never seen "Muslim" women harassed, beaten or tortured as you claim. Women command the greatest respect in Islam. In fact during my stay in India, a good number of Hindu women who married by choice stated that the arranged marriages of their parents and grand parents were far more successful than theirs. Forced marriage is a cultural anomaly and not Islamic law. You confuse culture with religion.
Bak Tanus, Sweden

The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.