FGM: More than 5,000 new cases in England

The NHS in England recorded 5,391 new cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the past year, data reveals.  Almost half involved women and girls living in London, NHS Digital found. A third were women and girls born in Somalia, while 112 cases were UK-born nationals. The practice is illegal in the UK and it is compulsory for family doctors, hospitals and mental health trusts to report any new cases in their patients.
FGM - intentionally altering or injuring the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons - carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail.  It is the second time that NHS Digital has released annual FGM figures for England.  Most of the cases were spotted by midwives and doctors working in maternity and obstetric units. The majority had originally had FGM done to them abroad and as a young child.