FGM is illegal in the UK. Currently, anyone found guilty of performing FGM could face up to 14 years in prison. Those found guilty of failing to protect a girl from FGM could face a custodial sentence of up to 7 years.
The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, makes it an offence to:
- Perform FGM in England and Wales;
- Assist a girl to carry out FGM on herself; and
- Assist (from England and Wales) a non-UK person to carry our FGM outside the UK on a UK national or resident
(*If the mutilation takes place in England or Wales, the nationality of or residence status of the victim is irrelevant. See Home Office FGM Fact Sheet for more information).