London - New legislation to curb the practice of forced marriages came into force in Britain Tuesday under which anyone convicted of forcing a person into marriage could be jailed for up to two years.

Under the new legislation, victims, a friend or the police can apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order which will forbid actions such as taking people abroad for marriage, seizing passports or intimidating victims.

Family members will also be obliged to reveal a person's whereabouts.

Penalties for breaching an order include up to two years' imprisonment. The law will be applied in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland is currently considering the introduction of similar measures.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a newspaper article recently that Britain's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) had handled more than 1,500 reports so far this year.

According to the FMU, 65 per cent of all known cases of the practice in Britain involve people of Pakistani origin.

The legislation is the first to target the problem of forced marriages specifically. It was previously dealt with through immigration laws and child protection legislation.

"This new law is a powerful tool that will help ensure that no- one is forced into marriage against their will and those already in such marriages will receive protection," justice state secretary Bridget Prentice said.

The legislation was also welcomed by Shaminder Ubhi, director of the Ashiana Network, which supports South Asian, Turkish and Iranian women who are experiencing domestic violence.

"Understandably, not all people will want to seek legal redress, but certainly this act sends a clear message that forced marriage will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be held accountable." (dpa)