Vera Baird supports anti-FGM campaign

It has been illegal to carry out FGM in the UK since 1985 Credit: PA

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner supports Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.

Dame Vera Baird QC, and Northumbria Police are voicing their support for the United Nations' International campaign.

The campaign runs every year on February 6, and is designed to raise awareness of the harmful practice affecting millions of women and girls worldwide.

A case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is either discovered or treated in England every hour, according to analysis of NHS statistics by a charity.

Between April 2015 and March 2016 there were 8,656 times when women or girls attended doctors' surgeries or hospitals and the problem was assessed - the equivalent of one every 61 minutes.

Among those who attended, a case of FGM is newly recorded every 92 minutes on average.

This means a woman or girl has their case recorded by the NHS for the first time, although in many cases they will have been cut some years before but it has not come to the attention of doctors sooner.

The figures come as the world marks the international day of zero tolerance to FGM - a UN-sponsored event to raise awareness of the issue.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, has campaigned to make FGM a priority here in Northumbria and part of her Violence Against Women and Girls strategy is to ensure Northumbria Police has accurate intelligence and can respond appropriately to reports of FGM, commitments which the force is working hard to deliver on.

Victims First Northumbria can help provide practical and emotional support for victims and can be contacted on 0800 011 3116 or visit www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk.