160 FGM cases reported in Black Country and Staffordshire

The statistics, published this week by NHS Digital, also show that there were 230 total attendances at NHS hospitals and doctors’ surgeries in the same period where the practice, known as FGM, was identified or a medical procedure for FGM was undertaken.

FGM is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there is no medical reason for this to be done.

It is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. It is illegal in the UK and can seriously harm the health of women and girls.

In Sandwell there were 125 total attendances between April 2016 and March this year and 75 newly-recorded cases.

In Wolverhampton there were 45 attendances of which 25 were new cases.

Meanwhile there were 30, 25 and five attendances in Dudley, Walsall and Staffordshire respectively, of which all were being reported for the first time.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Once more, these figures highlight that FGM continues to affect hundreds of girls and women living in communities across England.

“FGM is child abuse. Despite being illegal for over 30 years, too many people are still being subjected to it and it is right that health services have started to properly record evidence of this horrendous practice.

“The NSPCC Helpline is contacted more than once a day by people worried about girls who may have suffered, or are at risk of, FGM. It takes courage to report concerns as many feel ashamed or worry they will betray friends and family. But we need to end the silence that surrounds FGM to better protect children.”

Across the country, NHS professionals in England have reported 9,179 attendances where FGM was identified or a procedure for FGM was undertaken. Of these, 5,391 were newly-recorded cases.

Of the newly-recorded cases, 112 involved women and girls who were born in the UK.

In 57 cases, the practice had been undertaken in the UK.