AVON and Somerset Police has continued their backing of the campaign to stop female genital mutilation (FGM) ahead of an international awareness-raising day.

The force has been a long-standing campaigner against FGM, and has successfully applied for three protection orders relating to girls at risk in the force’s area.

FGM is a barbaric act on a woman’s genitals, and is often performed on young girls, especially in African countries or people who come from African families.

Young girls often do not get a say on whether or not it is performed on them, and is often done with violence.

Det Ch Insp Leanne Pook, who is the force and south west regional lead for FGM, said: “FGM is recognised as an international violation of human rights.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with culture or religion and is an act of child abuse.

“We’re dedicated to raising awareness about the real human impact of this crime among the general public and professionals working in safeguarding, health and education.

“We’ll use all the tools and legislation at our disposal to protect children at risk and we work with our partner agencies on a daily basis to achieve this.

“We investigate all referrals thoroughly including opportunities to prosecute perpetrators of FGM but clearly our priority is to prevent FGM taking place at all rather than to prosecute when a girl has been harmed.

“There continues to be a significant under-reporting of incidents but we have to understand we are unlikely to get to a place where women and girls come forward in numbers and self-report.

“They understandably have real concerns about the consequences for their parents and families who have played a part in organising FGM which is a deeply entrenched practice.

“We can’t underestimate the consequences for women and girls who come forward so those agencies responsible for safeguarding need to be proactive in taking that responsibility away from those living with and at risk of FGM.

“That said, we are always seeking to improve our links with affected communities and to create trusting relationships that encourage people to pass relevant FGM intelligence and information to us.”

PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “Tackling domestic and sexual abuse, which includes FGM, is a priority for me and I welcome the continued collective effort being made to focus on the issue and help protect the women and girls at risk of this most intrusive and damaging practice.

“Even before the reporting of FGM became mandatory, a lot of work has taken place to train health care professionals and teachers in recognising the signs of this horrific crime. “I welcome both the efforts to raise awareness of this form of child abuse and the changes in legislation to safeguard those known and at risk of FGM.

“I am very clear that FGM is child abuse and must be treated as such. We must never lose sight that FGM is a violation of human rights that has lifelong health and emotional consequences.

“Working together we must eradicate this disgraceful crime for good.”

Since the turn of the year, the force has redoubled its efforts in the fight against FGM.

It has helped train up to 80 Somerset GPs on FGM awareness and obligations surrounding mandatory reporting as part of an event held at Dillington House in Ilminster, trained professionals working in the areas of safeguarding and mental health in Somerset, formed part of a focus group advising staff from the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office on what is working well and not so well in tackling FGM, supported day-long multi-agency enhanced training commissioned by the Bristol Safeguarding Children’s Board (BSCB), helped train officers and detectives with the States of Jersey Police on how they can use their existing legislation to help children at risk of FGM, attended an event organised by Bristol University’s Feminist Society, in conjunction with the Integrate Bristol charity, to increase FGM awareness, which was attended by an audience including trainee teachers, doctors and lawyers The force is also attending two key conferences later this month organised by Bristol charities we have close ties with.

On February 20, Integrate Bristol will be holding its annual conference at City Academy School focussing on a range of issues, including and launching their new learning resources to address radicalisation.

DCI Leanne Pook will be involved in facilitating workshops during the day and will be a member of the expert panel.

More details about the Integrate Bristol event can be found on its website - http://integratebristol.org.uk/ Six days later, the charity FORWARD, in partnership with Refugee Women of Bristol, will be holding a conference at Muller Hall in Easton to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. DCI Leanne Pook in conjunction with Designated Nurse Jackie Mathers will deliver a presentation on mandatory reporting and other changes in legislation to members of the community and professionals working to end FGM.

At the event, which runs from 10am to 3pm, the charity will be launching a book highlighting the achievements and challenges of partnership work in Bristol and its Community Empowerment Programme.

For more details of this conference visit the FORWARD website -http://forwarduk.org.uk/