Polly has been supporting South Asian women for over 30 years. She has identified gaps in service provision for women who have been, or are, at risk of being disowned and who require long term support towards leading a successful independent life without fear.  As a result, she set up The Sharan Project: A specialist ‘by and for’ national charity that supports South Asian women affected by abuse or persecution. As a National Crime Agency recognised Expert Witness on forced marriages and honour-based abuse, her consultancy, campaigning and advocacy role has led to the criminalisation of Forced Marriage in the UK.

She co-chairs the Met Police’s London Harmful Practices Working Group, sits on the Victim Voices Group, the Home Office, DWP and NPCC/CPS Stakeholder Groups, and the Forced Marriage Unit’s Partnership Board. She was appointed as a Panel Member for the IICSA Inquiry, focusing on Child Sexual Abuse within the Family Environment (CSAFE) and advisory roles for the Women’s Interfaith Network (WIN) and Nottingham University’s ‘My Marriage, My Choice’ research, looking at forced marriage in relation to persons with learning disabilities.