The requested information cannot be provided as, currently, circumstances around so-called honour killings are not identifiable from centrally-held homicide data. However, over the coming months we will be working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers to develop an honour-based violence action plan that will seek to ensure that all reports of honour-based violence are investigated and to increase awareness of this appalling crime. We will be reporting on the progress of this work on a regular basis.
More broadly, we are currently developing a national black and minority ethnic (BME) working group of Government, statutory agencies and the third sector that will promote a partnership approach to issues such as domestic and sexual violence, forced marriage, so-called honour crimes and female genital mutilation. The group will identify and develop actions and practical tools to assist victims and potential victims.
We are also aware that we need to understand more about the help-seeking behaviours of women from BME communities with a view to informing national policy and practice development. We have commissioned research from Bristol university to undertake a study of this and expect interim findings in September 2008.