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Forced marriage app

A new smartphone app, for young people at risk of being forced into marriage, has been launched by a charity and the Metropolitan Police.

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Met: no-one should be suffering and be unheard

The app is designed to look like a game. Credit: Freedom Charity/Southwick Media.

The app was developed with support from the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Command.

Detective Superintendent Reg Hooke said he would "commend it to all young people and professionals who work with the young."

He said: "It recognises that often their best and most immediate support comes from friends and others who see them every day.

"In this day and age, with our level of social networking and communication, no one should be suffering and be unheard and the app gives another voice to young people."

"The 999 of apps"

The app lists the "warning signs" to look out for in cases of forced marriage and so-called "dishonour-based violence".

At the touch of a button, the user can also be directed straight through to the emergency services.

Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity, said:

"We listened to young people and took action when they told us they would prefer information to be communicated to them by way of an app. In accessing the Freedom app, the user is just two clicks away from getting life-saving help. It's the 999 of apps and we urge everyone to download it, for free, today."

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App for youngsters at risk of forced marriage

A new smartphone app, for young people at risk of being forced into marriage, has been launched today by Freedom Charity, the Government's Forced Marriage Unit and the Metropolitan Police.

The app has been designed to reach out to young people, aged 16 to 25, who are most at risk from forced marriages. It looks like a game, making it attractive to use and helping to avoid suspicion from parents. But the charity says it contains information which could be "life-saving".

Watch Freedom Charity's video about the new app below.

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