A former West Midlands Police officer savagely beaten by her own family for refusing to go through with a forced marriage is set to share her story at a conference aimed at better identifying and supporting victims of ‘honour’ based abuse.
Birmingham-born Rashid – who worked as a Birmingham beat cop from 1993 to 1998 (pictured) – was just 13-years-old when she was “promised” in an engagement to a cousin she’d never met.
She was taken to a remote village in Pakistan a week before her 18th birthday for the wedding but, when she refused to take part in the ceremony, was viciously assaulted by her father and other men.
The violence continued back at the family home in Birmingham so Rashid – supported by two West Midlands Police officers she describes as “wonderful” – finally made the brave move to break free.
And on Thursday (14 July) Rashid – now a solicitor in southern England – takes centre stage at a West Midlands Police conference designed to share good practice when dealing with forced marriage cases.
Also attending the conference is WMP Chief Inspector Sean Russell whose father Ray was one of the two officers who supported Rashid out of her ordeal. Rashid still carries with her a handwritten note Ray gave her with a number to call should she need help.
She said: “I fled home in September 1990. I was one of the lucky ones as I had loyal friends I could stay with and a great boss who was very understanding."
“My family reported me missing – and even hired a private detective to trace me as they were still insistent I should marry this man – so I initially went to West Midlands Police to confirm I was OK and explain why I left home."
“I met two wonderful police officers…and I will always be grateful for what those two officers did to help me. They believed me – that was the most important thing. They were ahead of their time – most people then considered forced marriage a cultural issue, not a criminal one – but they did what they could to safeguard me."
“I’d always thought about trying to become a police officer and the actions of these two PCs reinforced that ambition. I knew I wanted to help other people and to give victims who were suffering in silence a voice and to show them there is a way out."
“All agencies – not just the police – need to recognise the unique vulnerabilities and risks for honour based abuse victims. They need to feel comfortable, confident, protected...and safe. I hope my story will help improve safeguarding and the overall response to victims."
“These issues are not cultural, they are criminal. An absolute and utter breach of the most basic human rights that no-one should be able to deprive another human being.”
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