Police will visit Eastbourne College to raise awareness of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), as part of a zero tolerance campaign.
Sussex Police supported the United Nation’s International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) last Friday, and it will visit various colleges on March 18, to talk to students about FGM.
FGM is the procedure that intentionally alters or causes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, and is illegal in the UK.
It is normally carried out by women with no medical training, who see it as a source of honour and tradition.
In October 2014, 455 female patients in the UK were newly identified as having undergone FGM. A further 1,468 patients were also receiving treatment for FGM.
There are people within communities from all over the world for who this is an accepted practice.
Detective Inspector Jacqui Jenkins from the Sussex Police Public Protection team said, " There has been a small amount of intelligence relating to FGM in Sussex, from partner agencies, however it is believed that this is an issue which is still significantly under reported in Sussex and across the country.
“I’d encourage anyone with concerns to contact police or partner agencies including ChildLine and the NSPCC.”