Court issues FGM orders to safeguard two girls in Rotherham

The interim FGM protection orders were granted by Sheffield Family Court to safeguard two girls from Rotherham following an application by South Yorkshire Police and its legal team, a spokeswoman for the police force said.

Under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, it is illegal for FGM to be performed in the UK.

It is also an offence for a UK national or UK resident to carry out FGM even outside the UK, or help and enable someone else to carry out FGM.

This applies even when the victim is taken to a country where this practice is legal.

If convicted, the perpetrator can face up to 14 years in prison.

The interim FGM protection orders give specific stipulations to those subject to the order about their behaviour and conduct, all intended to protect the girls from harm, said the police spokeswoman.

Failure to comply with the court order is a criminal offence and can result in a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Force lead for honour-based abuse, forced marriage and FGM, Det Insp Suzanne Jackson, said: “FGM protection orders are a powerful and preventative means of protecting females from FGM.

“It is a serious and violent crime, which we want to prevent happening, to safeguard victims from a lifetime of physical and psychological damage.

“Harmful cultural practices are sadly still continuing in countries where this is seen as normal.

“Parents are often faced with family and community pressure and isolation if they don’t comply with FGM and mothers themselves have been victims as children.

“Our aim is to intervene and ensure that this cycle of abuse does not continue.

“Partner agencies will report to us where they identify a potential risk of harm and it is important that they continue to do this.

“That way, we can work together to ensure children are safeguarded, parents are educated and sanctions are in place should the orders be disregarded.”

The practise of FGM involves any procedure that removes part or all of the external female genitalia, or any procedure that involves injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

While it is thought that the practice predominantly takes place outside the UK, police believe it remains an under-reported crime.

Anyone wishing to report any concerns about FGM in South Yorkshire should contact 101.

Further information, advice and support is available by contacting the NSPCC FGM Helpline on 0800 028 3550 or emailing [email protected]

Alternatively, contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk, or visit the Daughters of Eve website at www.dofeve.org

You can also contact Karma Nirvana, a national charity that specialises in help and support for victims of honour based abuse and forced marriage, on 0800 5999 247 or Ashiana can be contacted on 0114 255 5740.