A former health and social worker has launched a campaign pressuring the government to work harder to stop female genital mutilation (FGM).
Fiona Dent, who has lived in Holyport for 26 years, says an estimated 65,000 young girls are risk from female circumcision, a highly painful procedure which can lead to hormonal imbalances, infections and child-birth complications.
It is a traditional practice carried out by some ethnic groups.
Despite being illegal, Fiona says Britain is the European ‘hot spot’ for FGM, which sees parts of women’s sexual organs removed or sewn up.
She has launched an e-petition asking the government to take action.
She said: “We’re asking the government to provide more funds to implement a partnership between health services, social services, police, the Crown Prosecution Service, charities who work with victims and charities who work with communities who use FGM.
“Without funding nothing is happening.”