Written evidence submitted by
Vera Baird QC, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria

Those at most risk in the UK and the barriers to identification and intervention

Those most at risk in the UK appear to be from the Horn of Africa such as Somalia and parts of north east and west Africa. The practice of FGM can be fund among all religious, ethnic and cultural groups and across all socioeconomic classes. 

The main barrier to identification is resistance on so called cultural grounds on the parts of families who wish to practice this act, and unease from others about broaching the subject.  The barrier to intervention is that there is a lack of understanding about the legislation surrounding FGM and the support services available – something I wish to address through my VAWG Strategy.   

The role of the Police and multi-agency co-operation

Multi-agency co-operation needs to be enhanced across the board and strengthened to include seamless pathways between victim identification, referral, support and the criminal justice system.  There are opportunities to have more hard hitting, joined up campaigns both at a national and local level where agencies have already well developed resources which can be shared and utilised widely. 

All key agencies particularly those that have a specialist knowledge in this area have a role to play in ensuring the safety of those girls at risk of FGM, from the frontline health professional spotting the signs of violence, Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards, to the police gathering the right evidence and the Crown Prosecution Service considering how they can best support the victim to ensure a successful prosecution.  Working together as agencies and together with our local communities is the only way we will be able to stop this crime and bring those responsible to justice. 

Very specifically, the role of the police should be to employ greater use of intelligence-led police operations and surveillance, particularly against "cutters". To support this sentencing guidelines could offer significantly reduced sentences for former cutters or parents who co-operate with the police and relevant authorities.

In addition I would suggest that there should be a change in the law to require all professionals who came across examples of FGM (likely to be doctors, midwives, nurses who see physical evidence or anyone who gets a disclosure from a victim) to report it.  FGM is practised by particular communities and if it is present in one woman there it is likely to be endemic and a threat to future women and girls and we must identify its prevalence enabling agencies’ to target intervention work.

I know collecting evidence and information for this form of abuse can be difficult for a variety of reasons, one being that child victims would have to give evidence against their family potentially criminalising parents and older brothers and sisters which is a very difficult situation. That is why my role as Police and Crime Commissioner and the role of the police is essential in ensuring victims receive the correct support, that action is taken, and those people who commit the crime are dealt with appropriately.

Systems for collecting and sharing information on FGM

To put an end to this injustice that has been carried out for thousands of years it will take a huge change of mentality.  FGM is a deeply rooted tradition that cannot be stopped by legislation but by the people and communities carrying this out and standing by while it is carried out.

There is a need for a multi-agency system which allows all agencies access to the same information about potential cases, allowing agencies including health to work together to tackle individual cases and collect and share sufficient evidence to proceed with successful prosecutions and prevention work in areas where there is a concern that the practice continues.

Raising awareness of FGM

There are many ways in which we can raise awareness of FGM and help to reduce this criminal act across the UK:

• Education in schools – age appropriate discussions in schools and within girl’s projects.  We know that girls between 5-8 years old are at most risk and therefore it is important that they understand how to keep their body safe. 
• Reaching mothers – women who have experienced FGM themselves need support to understand what they have been through as well as support to safeguard their own daughters.
• Religious establishments – FGM is not a religious act so the more faith leaders are encouraged and supported to spread this message the better.
• Working with new arrivals to the country – working in a really proactive and positive way delivering the message that the practice of FGM is illegal in the UK and any abuse of girls is intolerable.

To underpin this awareness raising work it is essential to develop accessible and culturally appropriate material, toolkits for discussion with adults and children.  This is not a quick fix but something that has to be seen as a more long-term education and awareness programme. The national zero tolerance day for FGM is a good start but something that must be built upon as a first step to awareness raising, a more detailed programme of activity is sorely needed. 

Training for frontline staff working with communities across the board is key to ensuring early signs of FGM are recognised and the most appropriate support, intervention and prosecution where there is robust evidence. Compulsory training for doctors, midwives, receptionists at clinics and health teams for them to report cases of FGM to health authorities and the police should be carried out. 

We have good examples of frontline training in Northumbria, for example the Shine Newcastle project that looks to offer women free and confidential advice about a range of issues related to sexual health. Honour based violence and FGM training is rolled out to all new police recruits, community support officers, call handlers and investigators with more in-depth training provided to our protecting vulnerable people unit.  The training provides officers with information about legislation, support services and appropriate responses.        

I was very pleased to find out recently that midwives in one part of Northumbria are trained to identify signs of FGM on expectant mothers and have systems in place to report the birth of a baby girl to social services where the mother has been subject to this act as due to the mothers history the baby is now at risk of FGM. 

Support services for women and girls

Available support services for women and girls who have suffered FGM should be improved to provide a one stop shop where women can go for safety and who may fear their younger siblings, relatives or friends are going to be subject to FGM.  It is essential to provide safe places for girls to go who are fleeing this violence or who report it and are fearful to return home. 

Resourcing education and awareness campaigns and providing the necessary support to keep victims safe from harm can be great but by working together with others, sharing resources, materials, working more efficiently to identify victims of FGM and provide the support needed can lead to more effective and leaner ways of working.

Learning what works well across the country in terms of raising awareness of FGM, providing appropriate support services for the victim and providing opportunities for people to confidentially report this crime whether happening to them or to someone they know is essential to ending this violence for the current generation and generations to come.