London: There has been a sharp surge in UK of "honour" related violence, including murder, a top official has told a British parliamentary panel.

The true toll of people falling victim to brutal medieval customs is "massively unreported" and far worse than is traditionally accepted, said Commander Steve Allen, head of Association of Chief Police Officers's (ACPO) honour-based violence unit. His troubling assessment, made to a panel of British lawmakers last week, comes amid a series of gruesome murders and attacks reported on British women at the hands of their relatives.

Describing it as "the tip of the iceberg," the ACPO warns that the number of girls falling victim to forced marriages, kidnappings, sexual assaults, beatings and even murder by relatives intent on upholding the "honour" of their family is up to 35 times higher than official figures suggest, The Independent on Sunday reported.

Up to 17,000 women in UK are being subjected to "honour" related violence, including murder, every year, according to police chiefs. In an attempt to crack down on the crimes being committed in the name of honour, the British Home Office is in the final stages of preparing a plan to "ensure that victims are encouraged to come forward with the knowledge that they will receive the help and support they need", the report said.

According to the British daily, a Civil Protection Bill, being drafted by the Labour government, will give courts greater guidance on dealing with violence related to forced marriages.

Source : PTI