Honor killings and Britain

Brutal murders continue to rise:

A dramatic rise in so-called honour killings in London was revealed by police today.

Detectives believe 18 women, most from the city's Asian communities, have been murdered by their families for bringing "shame" on them.

They are investigating whether dozens of other murders in the last decade may also have been honour killings.

The shock figures were disclosed as Scotland Yard said that in the past two years in London almost 500 women have been forced into arranged marriages, which are seen as the prime cause of honour-based crime. Those who refuse to marry chosen partners or have relationships outside the community have been murdered - and girls as young as 14 have been driven to suicide.

In the news:

Police call to make forced marriages illegal

Police urge forced marriage law

Outlaw Forced Marriages, Says Police Chief

The grooms who marry in fear