The government has said it will introduce a new duty to make reporting of FGM mandatory through amendments to the Serious Crime Bill, with the aim of a change in the law before the general election.
The mandatory reporting will be restricted to victims under the age of 18 and will only be required for “known” cases of FGM, where the victim confirms the procedure has take place, or it is visually confirmed, rather than “suspected” cases.
Reports will have to be made to police within one month of disclosure or identification taking place.
Failure to report a known case of FGM will be dealt with through existing disciplinary frameworks of the relevant regulator for each of the professions.
Crime prevention minister Lynne Featherstone said: “We believe that introducing a mandatory duty will provide clarity for professionals and will give them the confidence to confront FGM.
“It will aid police investigations and increase the number of perpetrators caught and prosecuted.
“It will also send a clear message to perpetrators that they will be held responsible for their actions and help prevent this appalling crime from happening.”
Last month, CYP Now reported that the government was minded to fast-track legislation to introduce mandatory reporting prior to the general election.
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