Church of England in 'sham marriage' crackdown (April 12, 2011)
 Rev Brown married hundreds of African men to Eastern European women to help them stay in UK
The Church of England is to issue new guidance to clergy in an attempt to reduce the number of sham marriages.
In future, couples will have to apply for a licence if either the bride or groom is from a non-European country.
Members of the clergy are also being urged to report any suspicions they have that the marriage is not genuine.
Over the past nine months, 155 people have been arrested in the UK as a result of investigations into both church and civil ceremonies.
The new guidance advises clergy not to publish banns - where a couple's intention to marry is read out in church - for marriages involving a man or a woman from a non-European country.
Instead, it says couples should apply for a "common licence", which involves the swearing of affidavits and classes.
The guidance issued by the House of Bishops - one of three houses in the General Synod - has UK Border Agency agreement.
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