Swindon Local Safeguarding Board June 2015

Female Genital Mutilation – Information for Professionals

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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is also called Female Circumcision or Female Genital Cutting. It includes any procedure that is designed to alter or injure a female’s genital organs for ‘cultural’ or non-medical reasons.

FGM can be practiced at any age, however the majority of cases take place between the ages of 2 and 5 years old. It is estimated that in the UK there are approximately 20,000 girls under the age of 15 at risk of FGM each year. In Swindon, it is estimated that there are around 400 women who have undergone FGM.

People from African countries, as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia are more likely to practice FGM than other communities. Whilst not all people from these regions will practice FGM, and indeed there are many people in these communities in the UK who are working to eradicate this harmful and abusive practice, professionals should be aware of this issue for girls from these regions. It should also be remembered that FGM is not practiced for any religious reasons and indeed it is known to pre-date the religions within which FGM is prevalent.

GPs, health professionals in acute hospitals including Maternity, Obstetrics, Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) will manage the care for women who have undergone FGM, and will need to be aware of the multi-agency guidance on FGM and reporting requirements, and have undergone training on FGM to enable them to respond in an informed and sensitive way and to identify and refer any child protection concerns where appropriate. The guidance makes it clear that ‘any female child born to a woman who has been subjected to FGM must be considered to be at risk, as must other female children in the extended family’.

Swindon FGM multi agency guidance is available at:

FGM is illegal in the UK.

It is also illegal to take a British national or permanent resident abroad to undergo FGM or to help someone who is trying to arrange to have FGM performed. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or for helping FGM to be performed is 14 years in prison.

If you are concerned about a friend or someone you know there are signs you can look out for which may indicate that a girl is at risk of FGM:

  • If a girl talks about plans to have a ‘special procedure’ or to attend a special occasion to ‘become a woman’.
  • If a girl’s parents state that they or a relative will take the child out of the country for a prolonged period.
  • A girl may talk about a long holiday to her country of origin or another country where the practice is prevalent.

There are also signs which may indicate that a girl or young woman has already undergone FGM:

  • Difficulty walking, sitting or standing.
  • Spending longer than normal in the bathroom or toilet due to difficulties urinating.
  • Soreness, infection, or unusual presentation noticed by practitioner when changing a nappy or helping with toileting,
  • Spending long periods of time away from a classroom during the day with bladder or menstrual problems.
  • Having frequent urinary or menstrual problems.
  • Prolonged or repeated absences from school or college.
  • A prolonged absence from school or college with noticeable behaviour changes (e.g. withdrawal or depression)
  • Being particularly reluctant to undergo normal medical examinations.
  • Asking for help, but not being explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear.

FGM - Getting Help

FGM is a form of child abuse.

If you are concerned that a child is at risk of, or has undergone, FGM contact Swindon Family Contact Point at or on 01793 466903.

To report a crime to the Police dial 101 (non-emergency). If you believe that you orsomeone else is in immediate danger, always dial 999.

The NSPCC has a 24 hour helpline to provide advice and support to victims of FGM, or to anyone who may be concerned a child is at risk. Call the helpline on 0800 028 3550 or email . More information on the helpline can be found on the NSPCC website at

Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board has developed an FGM Toolkit which will give you additional information. This Toolkit includes an FGM pocket guide, which can be distributed to professionals working with children and young people. The FGM Toolkitis at:

Training courses on FGMmay be available through your own agency or through LSCB Training at

If you are concerned that a child may be taken out of the country to undergo FGM you can download the 'Statement Opposing Female Genital Mutilation'. This explains the UK law around FGM and makes clear that anyone involved in arranging FGM that happens outside the UK can still face punishment in UK courts.

For further information, please contact Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board at

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