Three men allegedly forced two teenagers who wanted to date each other to marry for cultural reasons.

The men, who cannot be identified, faced Australia’s Perth Magistrates Court on Friday charged with causing a person to enter into a forced marriage in circumstances of aggravation.

Australian Federal Police officers allege the teenagers, one aged between 13 and 15 years old and the other aged 17, wanted to date each other but their relatives told them they would have to be married for cultural reasons.

The three men allegedly arranged the marriage at a religious ceremony in Alexander Heights, in Perth’s northeast, last year.

Police say two of the men involved in the incident are related to the teenagers, one to the boy and the other to the girl.

It is the first time AFP officers have laid charges against people in Western Australia for arranging a forced marriage.

The men were given bail and are due to reappear in court next month.

AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the definition of a forced marriage was when a person married without freely and fully consenting because they had been coerced, threatened or deceived.

He said it could also be because they were incapable of understanding the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony for reasons including age or mental capacity.

“The legal age for marriage in Australia is 18, and while a child aged 16 to 18 can obtain permission from a court to marry, the person they wed must be an adult,” he said.

Superintendent Chwal said forced marriage was a complex crime because it often involved family members as victims and perpetrators, and the AFP’s No1 priority was the wellbeing and safety of victims.

“The AFP’s key focus is to disrupt and prevent this crime – by building awareness of the laws in Australia, the warning signs of forced marriage, and the help that can be provided to victims,” he said.

“If victims do not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, there are many services and agencies which can provide support to help ensure their safety.”

He said forced marriage was not limited to any cultural group, religion or ethnicity.

“Anyone can be a victim of forced marriage, regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation,” Superintendent Chwal said.

Forced marriage has been illegal in Australia since 2013 and could apply to legally recognised marriages, cultural or religious ceremonies, marriages that occurred in Australia or when a person is taken overseas to be married.

It could also include the conduct of those involved in facilitating the forced marriage.

Superintendent Chwal said common signs of forced marriage included a person who had a family history of elder siblings leaving education early, marrying early or indicating concerns of an early marriage, and someone who was highly controlled by family or community members in and outside of the home, including surveillance. They were always accompanied, limited or had no control of finances, life decisions, education or career choices.

Superintendent Chwal said they often had their communications monitored or restricted and expressed concern about an upcoming family holiday.

He said people might also feel conflicted or concerned about the ramifications if they did not go ahead with an agreed marriage or engagement or express concern about physical or psychological violence.