An MP has vowed to push for forced marriage to be made illegal as a consultation gets under way.

Earlier this week Home Secretary Theresa May launched a 12-week consultation on whether making forced marriage a criminal offence would help combat the practice and better protect victims.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: “Many if not all of the key behaviours typically associated with a forced marriage – such as kidnapping, false imprisonment, harassment and assault – are already covered by existing criminal offences.

“However, there is currently no specific offence of forced marriage and this loophole must be closed.”