Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has called for a ‘twin track’ approach of education and enforcement for tackling female genital mutilation.
He made the remarks as a report released today condemned the lack of successful prosecutions for female genital mutilation.
Tony said: “There can be no doubt that female genital mutilation is a criminal act, enshrined in law. It’s brutal, barbaric and cannot be justified on any grounds.
“Prosecutions are not our ultimate goal. We want to stop this from happening in the first place. Our approach to tackling this issue has to be a twin-track approach; challenging, educating and changing behaviours, as well as rigorous enforcement. That is the balanced approach we take here in Greater Manchester.”
“We must make sure that those at risk are identified and protected, and that victims are properly supported through any legal process and receive long-term health and emotional support.”
In the Home Affairs Select Committee report ‘Female genital mutilation: abuse unchecked’, Manchester ranks fourth in a table of local authorities with the highest number of newly recorded instances of female genital mutilation.
The Greater Manchester Female Genital Mutilation Forum is made up of partner agencies across Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, including the Police and Crime Commissioner, Greater Manchester Police, local authorities, health and voluntary organisations. Its members work together to tackle this hugely complex and sensitive issue.
Work is underway to improve the existing ‘fgm protocol’ which sets out how Greater Manchester frontline professionals respond to the practice so that everyone has a clear, coordinated response should they suspect female genital mutilation has or is likely to take place.
Plans are also in place for improving support for children who have been subjected to female genital mutilation, so that police and health interventions are underpinned by practical and emotional support for the child.
Greater Manchester Police has delivered training around female genital mutilation, actively engaging with communities to highlight the health and social consequences, as well as the illegalities. Officers have also carried out targeted work at Manchester’s airport in collaboration with the UK Border Agency to seek out any victims or families intending to carry out this abuse abroad.
If you’ve been affected by female genital mutilation, or you’re worried about someone else, find help and advice at www.gmvictims.org.uk/fgm