This might not sound like the most likely solution to the massive problem of forced marriage, but one school in Leeds thinks a simple silver spoon could save many girls.
Pupils at the Co-operative Academy in Leeds have been given metal spoons, the idea being that they should stash them in their underwear if they think they might be taken overseas to be married.
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As all of us who have forgotten to clear loose change out of our pockets will know, the sensitive metal detectors will then raise the alarm and catch the attention of security staff at the airport.
Harinder Kaur, 32, who is social, culture and ethos leader at the school, says this method can help 'save lives' - and even work towards 'eradicating' forced marriages.
She says: "Firstly, because some victims might not get an opportunity up until then. We know these cultures are quite controlling.
"They might fear they cannot call the police because they are being watched.
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"Some might raise the alarm before but at least with this spoon they know there is something to protect them right up until they are taken.
"It's a spoon that can save lives and it's working towards eradicating this problem."
With 75 languages spoken at the academy, Harinder explains that students can learn a lot about different cultures, but adds that these cultures can also have negatives embedded into them which don't fit into modern Britain.
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"It's about empowering our students to have the confidence to address it themselves with their parents," she added.
"It's not that easy, they don't want to leave their families but just want to find a balance.
"Many have been told since they were young, especially when it comes marrying cousins.
"It's about saving lives, we don't want the students to struggle and it's about teaching them there is so much to gain from other cultures but there are also negatives that don't fit into modern Britain."
Apparently, summer is a peak time for children to be unwittingly forced into marriage. Parents often trick kids with a holiday, only to spring a pre-arranged wedding on them.
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"In our school, if a student is not in lesson the parents get a phone call within half an hour, attendance is so high on the agenda to meet targets," Harinder adds.
"As a Sikh, I started at my school when I left university and I had an arranged marriage.
"In the school, I work in there are 75 languages spoken and it's predominantly Asian students.
"They need to understand about this issue, there are so many subtle ways of controlling then.
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"I have survivors that come in, this year I even brought in a male survivor just to represent it can happen to anyone - it's not black and white."
The school is working with Karma Nirvana, a charity that is fighting back against 'honour' -based abuse and forced marriage.
The spoon idea came from the charity, after a 16-year-old Muslim girl called their helpline in 2011, worried that her family holiday to Pakistan wasn't as it seemed.
She was nervous that her family were going to marry her off, so the call handler told her to put a metal object somewhere close to her body.
She was able to raise the alarm with security staff after the metal detector went off - and her gut instinct was right. Her brothers apparently told her that she would not be allowed back to the UK because of her 'shameful behaviour'.
Last year alone, the helpline received 9000 calls.
Jasvinder Sanghera, chief executive of Karma Nirvana, says: "I believe there are thousands of children and young people in Britain today right now who are being prepared for engagement and marriage during the summer holidays.
"Ideas like a metal spoon is the last resort, sometimes in these cases this is all these kids have."
Harinder Kaur later told the BBC: "In the six-week holidays we know there is no contact between school and the family and families have that opportunity to go abroad, get their child married and come back.
"It's a way of making our children aware there is a safety net there."
Anyone fearful of being a forced marriage victim should call the Karma Nirvana national Helpline on 0800 5999 247.
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: UK News, Interesting
