UK FGM Prosecutions

[666]

UK's first female genital mutilation prosecutions announced

The first UK prosecutions over female genital mutilation have been announced by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, 31, of Ilford, east London, will be prosecuted for an alleged offence while working at the Whittington Hospital in London.
Hasan Mohamed, 40, of Holloway, north London, faces a charge of intentionally encouraging female genital mutilation.
Dr Dharmasena and Mr Mohamed will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 15 April.

Innocent until proved guilty of course, but it's a start.

 

[Cleon]

Good.

 

[Agatha]

It's a small start. From the link:

The UK has in the past been compared unfavourably to other countries over the issue, such as France where there have been more than 100 successful prosecutions.

MPs have said it is "unforgivable" that there have been no UK prosecutions since laws against FGM were introduced nearly 30 years ago.

This was despite more than 140 referrals to police in the past four years.

The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 replaced a 1985 Act, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, raising the maximum penalty from five to 14 years in prison.

It also made it an offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to carry out FGM abroad even in countries where it is legal.

 

[Dissolution]

This is just up the road from me.
It's good that something's being done, but it's depressing that it's necessary.