Mutilation figures are released

A NEW victim of female genital mutilation is identified every 12 days on average across Leicestershire.

NHS figures released reveal healthcare professionals recorded 30 new cases of women and girls having undergone the traumatic procedure - which is illegal in the UK - in 2018/19.

Female genital mutiliation (FGM) involves procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs.

There are no health benefits of FGM and it is classed as child abuse.

The NHS warns that infections and excessive bleeding are common consequences of the procedures - both of which can be deadly.

Female genital mutilation has been illegal in the UK since 1985, with the law being strengthened in 2003 to prevent girls travelling from the UK and undergoing FGM abroad.

The NHS says that most cases of FGM are carried out on young girls up to the age of 15 - most commonly before puberty starts.

Across England there were 6,415 women and girls identified in 2018/19 as having had FGM - and 4,120 of those were new cases.

In most cases the FGM will have been carried out in a different country, though 100 women and girls were found to have undergone the procedure in the UK.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “We know from calls to our dedicated FGM Helpline that girls around the country are at risk of this dangerous practice. “Let us be clear, FGM is child abuse. It has no health benefits whatsoever and can have terrible and lasting physical, psychological, and emotional consequences.”