Metropolitan Police Sexual Offences, Exploitation

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Metropolitan Police Sexual Offences,
Exploitation Child Abuse Command

• PROJECT AZURE
• FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
• DC Natalie Reseigh

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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
• Perform FGM in the UK.
• Aid, abet, counsel or procure a non UK National
  to carry out FGM on girls who are British
  Nationals or permanent residents of the UK
  abroad, whether or not it is lawful in that
  country
• To aid, abet, counsel or procure a girl to carry
  out FGM on herself
• Penalty of up to 14 years in prison or a fine

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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command New last year

• Extension of extra-territorial liability to
  "habitual" UK residents
• Lifelong victim anonymity
• Parents's and guardians' liability for failing to
  protect a child from FGM
• (Serious Crime Act 2015)

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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command
New last year

• Civil Protection Orders for FGM
• Female Genital Mutilation Protection orders went
  live on 17th July 2015.
• They are designed to help safeguard girls under
  18 who are at risk of FGM at home in the UK or
  abroad or even those who are already victims.
• Anyone who fears that someone is at risk of FGM
  can apply to a family court from an FGMPO.
• This includes people who think they could be
  victim themselves or are already victims, local
  authorities, teachers, doctors, social workers
• or other third parties.
• Given the nature of these cases 23 family courts
  have been designated to deal with FGMPO
  applications.
• This list can be found on the Ministry of Justice
  website.
• Mandatory reporting for regulated professionals
  went live on 31st October 2015
• As of the 31st October 2015 all regulated
  professionals will have to report direct to
  Police any child U18 that either
• As a result of examination FGM has been
  visually identified.
• Discloses that they themselves have had FGM or

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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• There have been NO convictions under FGM
  legislation in the UK
• We have had ONE prosecution within the UK
• No cases referred to CPS until 2010
• All cases are now referred to CPS at the early
  stages of the investigation
• SOPS have been published giving direction to
  officers

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Under reported crime Lack of referrals
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• Studies suggest 6,500 girls are at risk in London
  each year
• Since 2009 we have had under 400 referrals
• FGM prevalence is difficult to estimate in the UK
  and worldwide
• The MPS use a flagging system to collate this
  data

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Some Barriers to Reporting
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• Children are unlikely to tell on their parents
• Many from loving / caring families, only occasion
  for professional intervention
• Once in a lifetime event
• Honour Based Violence
• Community Acceptance / Marriage
• Victims maybe too young to remember
• Language / Immigration status
• Unaware of the law
• Lack of understanding of health implications,
  they may not connect the health complications
  they suffer as an adult being connected to the
  FGM they suffered as a child

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Current Issue
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• Victims are extremely unwilling to come forward
  and report their parents
• The challenge is getting the victim to court
• We have 16 Child Abuse Investigation Teams across
  London, We have the resources but we dont have
  the information/Intelligence
• There is no cooperate response amongst other
  professional's to recognise and report

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Best interest of the child / dispelling myths
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• We are asking children / young people to give
  evidence that might result in their loved ones
  being imprisoned
• Consider what are the consequences for that
  child?
• We have to consider if prosecution is in the best
  interest of the child. Is this safeguarding

Rejection Family / Community
Pressure to withdraw Family / Community
Child removed Family / Community
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Multi Agency approach is vital We cant do this
alone
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command
Family
Border force
School

• Community

Doctor / Nurse
Police Officer
Social worker
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How can we overcome these barriers, what we have
implemented
Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• Project Azure, dedicated SPOCS
• Prevention campaigns Operation Limelight
• Awareness Joint Training
• Advice, Support Guidance
• Intelligence opportunities
• Partnership working
• MPS and CPS Protocol
• Guidance for Schools
• Work with the schools to educate and empower the
  young people
• Listen to the youth, give them a voice
• Mandatory reporting

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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

Artwork by Year 9 Frederick Bremer School
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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command NSPCC HELPLINE

Call the NSPCC's FGM Helpline on
0800 028 3550
Or
Email fgmhelp_at_nspcc.org.uk Project Azure
projectazure_at_met.police.uk 020 7161 2888
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Sexual Offences, Exploitation Child Abuse
Command

• Thank you very much