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<p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to tackling cases of female genital
mutilation (FGM), however it can only prosecute cases referred to it by the police
which meet both of the tests outlined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.</p><p>The
Code sets out a two stage test which must be applied when deciding whether a case
should be prosecuted. The first stage is the evidential test which requires prosecutors
to be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect
of conviction. If the evidential stage of the test is met prosecutors must then go
on to identify the relevant public interest factors tending for and against the prosecution
in order to form an overall assessment of whether a prosecution is in the public interest.</p><p>
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