CHILD victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence are seeking refuge in Dorset as the problem reaches epidemic proportions in inner city areas.

Those desperately trying to escape abduction, physical and emotional abuse are fleeing to areas with smaller Muslim communities in a bid to avoid being handed over to the perpetrators of the violence, it has been claimed.

Family Matters, a Dorset-based charity working to tackle domestic violence, now plans to hold a conference to educate people about the issue, which affects youngsters as young as six years old.

Manager Roni Jones said it is vital that those working in education, welfare, housing and policing jobs know what to do to help victims.

“People come to Dorset because it is safe – social services and child protection departments have had to get involved in this issue already in this area,” she said.

“We don’t know exactly what to do to provide the best help and support, and that is why we have arranged this conference.”

The event, called Four Faces of Domestic Violence, will be held at AFC Bournemouth’s Fitness First Stadium on Thursday, February 26, between 9am and 4pm.

Speakers include a judge, a Metropolitan Police expert, a representative from the Foreign and Commonwealth office, a medical director and domestic violence experts.

“This is a new problem for us to deal with in Dorset as we diversify and grow,” added Roni. “We have arranged a conference with both the Foreign Office and the Metropolitan Police’s leading expert in the field educating us about how to respond to this pertinent and lethal issue.”

The government has just announced that forced marriages are thought to be up by 80 per cent.

The Foreign Office’s forced marriage unit dealt with more than 1,500 calls last year, mainly from children afraid of being removed to a parent’s country of birth to be married to a person against their will.

Anyone interested in the conference is urged to call Family Matters on 01202 557888. The Foreign Office helpline is available on 0207 008 0151.