PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Female Genital Mutilation: Prosecutions (19 February 2018)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has made the prosecution of female genital mutilation (FGM) a priority and has introduced a series of measures to further improve its handling of these cases. Every FGM case reported to the police is eligible for early investigative advice from the CPS, and training on FGM has been delivered to investigators and prosecutors across the country.

The CPS has also appointed lead FGM prosecutors for each CPS area and agreed investigation and prosecution protocols with local police forces.

Where FGM is not charged, other offences will be considered, and the CPS has developed an aide memoire for prosecutors and police identifying other offences which may be considered in the event that evidence does not support an offence under the FGM Act 2003.