Anger as force says FGM will not be prosecuted
WEST Midlands Police has come under fire for saying they will not prosecute parents involved in the horrific mutilation of children.
The force issued a statement on its official Twitter account about female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice of cutting young girls’ genitals.
It stated: “Education and safeguarding vulnerable girls is the focus. Prosecuting/jailing parents unlikely to benefit child.”
It comes months after MPs warned the failure to prosecute cases of female genital mutilation in Birmingham was “deplorable”.
The tweet has now been deleted. A later tweet from a different West Midlands Police Twitter account said the force “will prosecute parents or cutters if in the child’s best interests”.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he would raise concerns with the force’s Chief Constable, David Thompson.
Mr Jamieson said: “FGM is child abuse and both myself and the public rightly expect West Midlands Police to arrest and prosecute those committing this most serious of crimes.
“Abuse will not be tolerated and it is absolutely right that the public has an increased expectation in the police to tackle complicated hidden crimes. I have made a huge investment in West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit with a focus on intervention, prevention and protection.
“Major strides have been taken to ensure identifying and responding to hidden crimes is a policing staple, with safeguarding part of everyone’s day-to-day business.
“I understand people’s concerns following a number of tweets from West Midlands Police’s Twitter accounts this weekend – and the general frustration at the lack of prosecutions nationwide.
“The tweets in question did not convey just how dedicated West Midlands Police is to tackling FGM nor official policy and I will be raising the matter with the Chief Constable.”
West Midlands UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge said he found it “concerning” that there “might be a situation where police do not take action against someone guilty of this disgusting crime.” He said: “The West Midlands include areas which have a high proportion of ethnic minorities so whilst I am pleased West Midlands Police have someone focused on stopping this barbarism and dealing with the criminals who mutilate the genitals of children I want to know that people are not let off claiming the victims someone would be better off without them being prosecuted.”