Violence against Women and Girls Crime report contents

Female Genital Mutilation
The CPS policy lead chairs monthly telephone conferences with appointed CPS Area Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) leads. This is helpful in providing national updates on FGM and the Area leads
provide updates on cases referred, challenges they encounter, FGM Protection Orders (FGMPOs) and
community engagement events. It also provides a useful forum for the exchange of experience in
cases e.g. use of medical experts and raising issues to be addressed with other government
departments.
Legislation
The CPS continues to work with government partners on developments and progress in addressing
FGM. The Serious Crime Act 2015, which was given Royal Assent in March 2015, included provisions
to strengthen the FGM Act 2003 and introduced new provisions which have all now come into force.
These new provisions were to:
extend the reach of the extra-territorial offences in the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
(came into force May 2015);
introduce a new offence of parental liability for failing to prevent FGM being carried out
(came into force May 2015);
grant victims of FGM lifelong anonymity from the time an allegation is made (came into force
May 2015);
provide for mandatory reporting of known cases of FGM where the victim is under 18 years
of age for health professionals, teachers and social care staff (came into force October 2015);
and
introduce an FGM protection order (a civil law remedy) to protect potential victims at risk
(came into force July 2015).
Guidance to prosecutors was revised and published to reflect these changes and new statutory
guidance, to which the CPS contributed, was published in April 2016.
Following implementation of amendments to the FGM Act 2003, additional cases have been referred
to the CPS for early investigative advice; however the CPS has not been able to proceed with any of
these.
Mandatory reporting for front-line professionals has resulted in increasing numbers of cases reported
to the police and Social Services, particularly by medical professionals. However, in the majority of
cases a safeguarding response is more appropriate, coupled with application for an FGMPO, if
needed. Mandatory reporting has not only increased the number of reports for investigation, but it is
also providing improved data on the extent and locations of FGM practising communities.
The CPS has worked closely with medical professionals to promote the mandatory duty to report, in
particular NHS England, NHS Wales, Department of Health and the Royal Colleges of Midwives and
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG). The DPP attended regular meetings with the President of the
RCOG to discuss a range of areas of mutual interest, which includes FGM. The CPS has contributed to
the RCOG FGM guidelines for medical professionals.
The introduction of the FGMPO has been a positive step in protecting potential victims where
evidence or intelligence suggests that they are at risk. In the period July to December 2015, a total of
32 FGMPOs were granted (MoJ data). The priority now is to ensure that there is a joined-up approach
from Local Authorities, Family Courts, the Police and the CPS, ensuring that information is shared. For
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