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<p>Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse.</p><p>The Serious
Crime Act 2015 introduced a number of measures to break down potential barriers to
prosecution, including:</p><p>• a new mandatory reporting duty which requires specified
professionals to report known cases of FGM in under 18s to the police; • extending
extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences of FGM committed abroad; • providing
lifelong anonymity for victims of FGM; • introducing FGM Protection Orders which can
be used to protect girls at risk; and • creating a new offence of failing to protect
a girl from the risk of FGM.</p><p>To help ensure the police have the guidance they
need to tackle FGM effectively, in March 2015 the College of Policing published Authorised
Professional Practice on FGM and this was updated in September 2015. In addition,
lead FGM prosecutors have been appointed for each Crown Prosecution Service area and
have agreed joint FGM investigation and prosecution protocols with their local police
forces.</p>
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