Video: David Cameron: forced marriage like 'slavery' The practice of making someone to get married against their will is not currently illegal in Britain. It is necessary to make this a crime, because it is absolutely abhorent practice. Frankly it is little short of slavery," Mr Cameron said. You are taking 15, 16 year-old British citizens, taking them off to another country against their will, marrying them to somebody against their will. That is a crime. That should be a crime and for too long in this country we've thought 'well it's a cultural practice, we just have to run with it. Well we don't. It's a crime The only sanction police have against those who flout such orders is to pursue them for contempt of court, which carries a possible fine or in extreme cases a short prison sentence. Otherwise police cannot prosecute perpetrators unless there is clear evidence of a more serious offence such as abduction or rape.