Campaign to raise awareness of FGM

A campaign's been launched in Northamptonshire to raise awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The campaign is being funded by Northamptonshire Police and is timed to coincide with the run-up to the summer holidays, when children may be at a higher risk of being taken abroad to have FGM carried out.

The aim is to send out a very clear message: FGM is child abuse.

It is recognised as a violation of the human rights of girls and women and is illegal in the UK. It is also illegal to take a British national or permanent resident abroad for FGM or to help someone trying to do this.

Between September 2014 and March 2015, 3,963 newly identified cases were reported in England. Northampton General Hospital recorded 30 cases of FGM.