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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

New UK FMG Action Plan

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Xenia · 24/11/2012 08:54

www.cps.gov.uk/news/press_statements/female_genital_mutilation_action_plan_launched/index.html

CPS Action Plan

  1. Improved national data on allegations of FGM or of persons who maybe at risk of FGM that have been referred to the police. More robust national data on cases referred to the CPS for advice and / or charging decision.


  1. Identify case studies from the data to examine emerging issues on why they did not proceed. If no action was taken, why was this?


  1. The DPP to raise with Ministers what the existing reporting duties are for medical professionals, social care professionals and teachers in referring possible FGM cases to the police.


  1. Explore whether evidence to prosecute offences under other legislation is possible and may be easier to support, such as section 5 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (DVCVA) 2004, as amended by DVCVA 2012, which creates an offence of causing or allowing a child or vulnerable adult to die or suffer serious physical harm.


  1. Explore what evidence is required to support charges of conspiracy to commit or aiding and abetting the offence of FGM.


  1. The DPP to raise with Justice Ministers whether current legislation should be reviewed.


  1. Examine how other jurisdictions (especially common law jurisdictions) have prosecuted cases of FGM.


  1. Explore how other police tactical options might operate and what intelligence could be collated to support evidence gathering for a prosecution.


  1. The police and the CPS to develop a protocol for the police to refer all cases of FGM to the CPS for early advice on the lines of enquiry and evidential issues for the police to build a strong case.


10. Discussions with the Department for Education on whether guidance on Working Together to Safeguard Children requires updating for further clarity about FGM.

and from the Times:

"Thousands of cases of female genital mutilation face the courts under a new strategy to curb the practice.

Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, is looking at whether prosecutions can be brought under a wider range of offences, including domestic violence laws.

The strategy is part of a plan to bring to justice those who carry out the illegal procedure, estimated to run to thousands a year in Britain.

About 24,000 girls under 15 who live in ethnic minority communities in Britain that practise female genital mutilation are thought to be at risk of the procedure and an estimated 66,000 have already suffered it.

The practice has been an offence in England and Wales since 1985, but no prosecutions have been brought. Mr Starmer said: ?It?s critical that everything possible is done to ensure we bring the people who commit these offences against young girls and women to justice.
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