SC&O5 & SC&02 Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command

1. SC&O5 & SC&02Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command PROJECT AZURE FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION DC Natalie Reseigh For Police eyes only. WARNING this presentation contains images some might find upsetting

2. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command Summer is for fun not for pain. The summer sadly is the most prevalent time of year for the practise of Female Genital Mutilation, 6,500 girls in London alone are at risk of being horrifically mutilated & subject to life threatening injuries What is FGM??? All procedures which involve the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons World Health Organization definition FGM IS CHILD ABUSE

3. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command • Health Implications • The child victims regularly suffer a number of the following health Implications • Shock severe pain & Trauma • Wound Infection, Septicaemia, Tetanus, • Urine retention • HIV & Hepatitis Infection • Exhaustion from Screaming • Failure to heal • Abscess formation • Excessive growth of scar tissue • Pelvic Infection due to menstrual obstruction • Obstruction to Urinary Flow & Urine Infections • Complications with child birth • Broken/fractured bones from being pinned down against their will • 10% of Child Victims of Type 3 FGM Die due to this Inhuman procedure

4. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command The following areas of the world are prevalent for the purpose of FGM & every year girls from the UK are taken to these countries so the procedure can be carried out. Senegal, Gambia, Iran, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali Malaysia, Cote D’Ivore, Burkina, Benis, Togo, Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Iraq, UAE, Sudan Somalia, Zambia, Uganda, Sudan, Pakistan, Egypt. Whilst some females will be taken out of the UK to have this barbaric Procedure inflicted upon them. it is known that it is also carried out discreetly within the UK. All officers must be aware of this offence as they may be the first to respond to an allegation or linked incident within their BOCU. Officers responding must contact SC&O5 straight away & be aware the victim may have suffered life threatening injuries.

5. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command The Law FGM is Child Abuse and against the Law….. The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it illegal to: • Practice FGM in the UK • To take girls who are British Nationals or permanent residents of the UK abroad for FGM whether or not it is lawful in that country • To aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of FGM abroad • Penalty of up to 14 years in prison or a fine

6. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command Police Protection Remember your power under S46 Children Act 1989 Where a constable has reasonable cause to believe that a child would otherwise be likely to suffer significant harm he or she may Remove the child to suitable accommodation and keep him or her there Or Take reasonable steps to prevent the child's removal from hospital or other safe place Section 46 (1) Tactical Options ….Arrest ? Police Protection? - Inform the designated officer - Police Protection lasts up to 72 Hours - Inform Social Services • Create Crime report & Merlin/Pac If you receive a call or information from someone indicating that a child is at immediate risk of FGM Urgent response by police is required

7. Sexual Offences, Exploitation & Child Abuse Command WHAT TO DO & WHO TO CONTACT FOR ADVICE • If FGM is suspected inform your Duty Officer & CID immediately • Contact Project Azure on 0207 161 2888 or projectazure@met.police.uk • Create a MERLIN/PAC so that Social Services can be made aware • Create a crime report – REMEMBER THE PG FLAG • Think Intelligence, Think CRIMINT • Contact your local CAIT team • If out of hours SCD reserve on T 68666 or 796563

8. THANK YOU