Sophie Lott is a case worker in the Forced Marriage Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The first thing I do when I get into work is check for my case updates on the computer – hoping that Nina* did attend the British High Commission overseas where my colleagues could check she was ok and if she was at risk of forced marriage. Her friends have been worried about her as had her boss who was the one who made the call to the FMU helpline. He had reported her missing, saying she would never miss work and certainly never have her mobile phone off. The family told police she was on holiday and agreed for her to be seen in person by staff overseas.
She had been forced into an engagement, but the marriage was set for five days’ time. She wants to get home, was tearful, scared and worried about how everyone would react. Her ‘fiancé’ beat her as soon as she spoke out saying she wanted to go home over a week ago and hasn’t stopped being abusive since then; she has bruises I am told on her arms and around her neck. Her parents lied about her grandmother being sick and so she went there not knowing the fate that was awaiting her. She is safe now and will be supported before the flight and met when she returns to the UK. Cases like these are the successful ones, the ones where we can make contact, get the person back, protect them from abuse, be it, sexual, physical or verbal and help them to have the freedom to choose how they want to live their lives.
I liaise with the police on this case, organising them to meet her at the airport from the plane. She will have the choice to take legal action against her family upon her return, as forced marriage is now a criminal offence in England and Wales, her parents could be arrested. She may not be ready to think about this, but many of our calls are relieved to know that they will be legally supported and the Law is on their side.
I call Southall Black Sisters, an incredibly effective Non-Governmental Organisation that has supported women at risk of forced marriage and domestic violence for many years. They now assist the FMU through their repatriation programme, meeting victims, finding them safe and suitable accommodation as well as providing emotional and legal support. Southall Black Sisters will also be at the airport for Nina’s arrival. Nina won’t have a home to come back to and will need their help.
With everything in hand, I take a few more calls from the helpline, sometimes it’s a big case that requires multi-agency assistance, but other times, it is someone just needing to know they are not alone and will be supported whenever they are ready to ask for help.
Finally I head off, I am attending a London college to talk about forced marriage and the work we do in the FMU. It is one for students. After I present I head to the tube station down the road, some of the students from the presentation are there waiting as well – they take the chance to speak to me and it transpires one is worried about her cousin, they take my number and I hope they call.
Being a case worker in the FMU gives me daily different challenges, there are moments when the experiences of the victims are hard to hear and think about, but these are also the ones that make me feel lucky that I can do a job where I can be part of the solution and provide hope and support to those who feel at times that hope is lost and they are alone.