UK: Police to reinvestigate 117 'honour killings'

Europe tackles 'honour killings'
European police officials are meeting to look at ways of tackling the rising phenomenon of "honour killings".
They aim to set up a pan-European unit to combat the killings and crack down on related issues such as trafficking.

Police forces from across Europe are re-opening murder files related to families of Turkish, Middle Eastern, Asian, Arabic and Eastern European origin over the past 10 years.

Experts say so-called honour killings are on the rise in Europe.

But as the issue remains largely hidden from public view, exact numbers are unknown.

Motives for the murders often include relationships which the families feel bring them dishonour.

A conference in The Hague will begin with a Swedish representative highlighting the case of a young woman called Fadime.

A 26-year-old Kurd, Fadime was shot dead two years ago near Stockholm, allegedly by her father because of her relationship with a Swedish man.

The murder triggered calls for urgent action to protect young immigrants who fall out with their families.


I think we've been unaware, we've been ignorant of the crimes going on
Andy Baker
UK police commander

Contract killers

In England and Wales police are reinvestigating more than 100 murders they suspect could be so-called honour killings.

Detectives from London's Metropolitan police are examining murder files going back 10 years - 52 in the capital and 65 in other parts of England and Wales.

Many of the female victims were from South Asian communities.

Police say some of the murders were carried out by contract killers hired by the families.

They also believe that so-called "bounty hunters" were involved - people, including women, who make a business out of tracking down victims.

Last September the UK police announced new research into the culture surrounding "honour killings".

The undertaking followed the conviction of Abdalla Yones, a Kurdish Muslim, for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter Heshu after she formed a relationship with a man of whom he disapproved.

At the time, Commander Andy Baker, head of the Metropolitan Police's Serious Crime Directorate and the chair of the new strategic taskforce, said the force needed to understand the culture surrounding "honour killings".

He said: "I think we've been unaware, we've been ignorant of the crimes going on."