Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many reports have been made by teachers, social workers and health professionals, so far, to the police regarding known cases of female genital mutilation involving victims under the age of 18.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. We will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls.

Mandatory reporting of FGM came into force in October 2015 and requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers to report known cases in under 18s to the police. Figures are not collated centrally. However, we continue to engage with the police, professional bodies and wider stakeholders to monitor its implementation.