Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, said that conviction rates in both areas were too low

There has been only one successful prosecution of forced marriage since it was criminalised two years ago, despite Theresa May’s pledge that new legislation would help to stamp out the “terrible practice”.

Figures also show that charges, prosecutions and convictions related to “honour”-based violence have fallen by up to 30 per cent in the past 12 months, causing concern at the Crown Prosecution Service.

Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, said that conviction rates in both areas were too low. She has announced a strategy to tackle the issue, including working closer with NGOs and charities to support witnesses and victims.

She said that incidents of forced marriage and so-called honour violence were not thought to be in decline; instead there appeared to be under-reporting