A PROJECT to raise awareness and understanding of the issues around honour based violence and forced marriage is being run in Thames Valley.

The Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board has secured funding from the Office of Criminal Justice Reform to run the project that will culminate in a conference to be held at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, on Friday.

The conference will be opened by Baroness Scotland of Asthal.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "There have already been two honour killings in Oxfordshire alone and it is feared that honour-based violence and forced marriage issues are vastly under-reported given a lack of awareness of the help that is available to victims.

"Honour based violence and forced marriage issues cut across many cultures and communities where that culture is heavily male dominated and where there is forced marriage there is also likely to be rape and domestic abuse. Honour based violence is also a child protection issue.

"It is important to note that Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage are not supported by any religion and that the problem cuts across all faiths.

"This is a cultural issue and all of the criminal justice agencies, as well as voluntary and professional bodies, have been working hard together to ensure effective joint working and understanding of the particular complexities associated with HBV and forced Marriage.

"The Local Criminal Justice Board has therefore been working with all of the criminal justice agencies as well as schools, hospitals, social services and local councils to raise awareness and create a joined up response to the problem."

Laetisia Staniforth, race and diversity officer for the Criminal Justice Board and co-ordinator of the project said: "This is a really exciting opportunity to have so many agencies represented and working together on this important issue. Through this project the LCJB have taken the lead in responding to a local issue and adopting a partnership approach to improve service throughout the process."