A consultation into whether forced marriage should be made illegal will be carried out only months after the Government rejected the call to outlaw the “evil” practice.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was “little more than slavery” and ordered the Home Office to consult on whether forced marriage should be made an offence.

In July the Home Office dismissed calls from the cross-party Commons Home Affairs Committee to make the practice illegal claiming it would discourage victims from coming forward.

Mr Cameron said: “To force someone into marriage is completely wrong. And I strongly believe this is a problem we should not shy away from addressing. But I know that there is a worry that criminalisation could make it less likely that those at risk will come forward.

“So, as a first step, I am announcing that we will criminalise the breach of Forced Marriage Prevention Orders. It’s ridiculous that an order made to stop a forced marriage isn’t enforced with the full rigour of the criminal law.

“And I am also asking the Home Secretary to consult on making forcing someone to marry an offence in its own right, working closely with those who provide support to women forced into marriage to make sure that such a step would not prevent or hinder them from reporting what has happened to them.”

Former Keighley MP Ann Cryer led the fight in Parliament against forced marriage and secured the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act, which gives victims and third parties the right to seek an injunction to prevent a forced marriage.

As a last resort people could go to court to claim compensation for damages and injuries suffered.

She said: “What David Cameron is saying is right. It should be made a criminal offence but also it is extremely important to keep the civil measures as they offer real protection for girls. Protection is better than cure and we need to be clear we are talking about girls being raped.

“Yes it must be illegal but keep the civil action and give these girls as much help and protection as they need before this evil crime happens.”

Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “I have always thought forced marriage should be a criminal offence and argued it should be made clear it is completely unacceptable but I do appreciate the argument that people would not come forward as they would not want their relatives jailed.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: “Forced marriages are an appalling and shameful blight on our society and it is right that the toughest possible action is taken against those involved.”

In his speech, Mr Cameron also said relatives joining their families in the UK should be able to speak English and have enough cash to live on.