Jaswant Narwal of the CPS had this to say: “Female genital mutilation is a sickening offence that can have a serious lifelong physical and emotional impact on victims. We want to send a strong message that this crime does not have to be carried out in the UK for people to be prosecuted by the CPS we will seek justice for people affected by this horrific practice.

There is no hiding place. We hope this new guidance will give victims, police and prosecutors the confidence and practical guidance they need to bring more perpetrators of this traumatic abuse to justice.”