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120 "honour killings" under review

22/ 6/2004

POLICE are re-examining nearly 120 murders which they believe could be "honour killings", it emerged today.

Detectives hope that taking a fresh look at the crimes - almost all of which have already been solved - will help them learn more about the scale and nature of the problem.

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said many of those who died were women who had been involved in relationships which their family felt brought dishonour on them.

A large proportion came from south Asian communities, but others were of African, Arabic or eastern European origin, she added.

Some of the crimes were carried out by contract killers, and others involved so-called "bounty hunters" who specialise in tracking down victims.

A total of 117 cases from England and Wales - 52 in London and 65 elsewhere - are being revisited, according to the spokeswoman.

The re-examination is part of a wider project to increase understanding of honour killings, which involves police forces across Europe.

The spokeswoman said: "We want to try to see what the scale of the problem is across Europe, and also to see how other countries deal with it.

"This is a learning process."

A press conference on the project was being held at the Hague today.

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