Doubling in FGM tip-offs to the Met raises prosecution hopes

The number of tip-offs to police about female genital mutilation has more than doubled in the past year as increased publicity prompts more Londoners to raise concerns.

Sixty-nine reports involving either direct allegations about FGM or other information on the barbaric practice have been received by the Met since the start of April last year.

As there were 26 such referrals during the previous 12 months, that amounts to an increase of 165 per cent with one month remaining before the final annual total for 2013/14 is reached.

The Met believes the rise in the number of tip-offs is the result of heightened public awareness of the problem, partly caused by coverage in the Evening Standard and other media, combined with a growing recognition among Londoners that mutilation is child abuse. The referrals have yet to result in any prosecutions despite files on more than 10 cases being passed to prosecutors.

But Detective Chief Superintendent Keith Niven, the head of the Met’s rape and child abuse command, said that he remained hopeful.

Anyone with information about suspected FGM should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the NSPCC’s FGM helpline on 0800 028 3550.

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