Police at Gatwick Airport are working with the Border Force this summer to tackle cases of people being transported through the airport for female genital mutilation (FGM).
Sussex Police is working with other agencies throughout the school holidays to speak to passengers travelling to and from the UK about FGM and to identify any victims of the procedure.
Flights to and from countries where there is a high FGM prevalence are being targeted.
There is no specific intelligence in relation to anyone flying, however intelligence does suggest the girls most at risk are taken back to their country of origin at the school holidays.
The idea behind this is to allow for their wounds to heal before they return home to the UK.
FGM is illegal in the UK and under the FGM Act 2003 it is also illegal for girls who have permanent residency in the UK to be taken overseas to have FGM anywhere in the world.
Those who are involved or facilitate this process may be guilty of an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Detective Inspector Andy Richardson said: “Our police operation is to find girls who are going out of the country to have FGM done to them as well as those returning who have recently undergone FGM and who could be in need of medical attention.
“We are also looking for offenders who we can prosecute.
“It is extremely difficult to detect and investigate FGM because it is a taboo subject that families and communities involved in the practice keep to themselves.
“There is strong intelligence that FGM is being done to girls living in the UK but we need help from members of the community to prevent it remaining a hidden crime.
“Most children who become the victim of FGM have no idea what is going to happen to them when they are taken out of the UK.”
Detective Inspector Jacqui Jenkins said: “This operation is part of the ongoing work currently being undertaken by Sussex Police to support those that have been affected by this brutal crime and to hold to account those responsible for perpetuating it.”
Anyone with information about FGM should call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.