FGM conviction: about goddamn time

Sonic67

Years later or not, it was still done. It didn't happen by accident. Kids never end up in a hospital?

IronGiant

I am disgusted by your random speculations on this subject as if it was some sort of intellectual excercise

Sonic67

'Those involved in FGM will find ways to evade UK law'

According to estimates by City University, there are 137,000 girls and women living with FGM, and 144,000 girls at risk of FGM in England and Wales. The Home Office has identified women from a number of east African communities – including Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia – as well as Nigeria, the Middle East and Indonesia, as being most at risk.

As a third trial is set to open at the Old Bailey next week – this time a case brought by the Metropolitan police – new figures obtained by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) show a nearly fivefold increase in reports of alleged FGM to police forces in the UK. Over a three-year period between 2014 and the end of 2016, responses by 47 police forces to freedom of information requests show there were 1,337 reported cases of FGM, and that they had risen from 137 in 2014 to 647 in 2016.

But, according to the latest data from the Crown Prosecution Service, there have been just 36 referrals of alleged FGM to the CPS since 2010.

Sonic67

House of Commons - Female genital mutilation: the case for a national action plan - Home Affairs Committee

2  Prosecuting FGM

21. It has been a crime to carry out FGM in the UK for almost 30 years, and for more than a decade it has been illegal for a UK citizen or permanent resident to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of FGM abroad on a UK national or permanent resident. Yet until 2014 there had not been a single FGM-related prosecution in the UK. The Government told us it was frustrated by the lack of progress.[29]

Why it has been difficult to secure a prosecution

24. The main reason why the CPS has struggled to achieve a prosecution until this year is because there have been very few investigations by the police. For example, between 2010 and 2013, the Metropolitan Police recorded just 20 referrals made to it as an FGM crime.

Sonic67

Wild shot in the dark, but for years grooming gangs went on as those who could have done something were afraid of "upsetting communities."

rustybin

Who would refer something like that?

I make 2-3 referrals a week. Most of which are as a result of staff identifying marks / wounds. The minority are disclosures from children.

How would anyone except the victim know what's happened and want to put their parents in prison for it?

Sonic67

We have had prosecutions where a kid has been abused, they've grown up, they've named the accuser, the person was charged and went to jail.

Or at least I know someone where that happened.

Perhaps if people knew the police/CPS would prosecute, something might be done.

And perhaps it wouldn't be done in the first place.

rustybin

Times they are a-changing. We'll see more prosecutions moving forwards now for sure and then hopefully a large reduction in crimes being committed.

Trollslayer

That requires more police, just like knife crime.

Toko Black

That's up to you - I simply don't see your point considering the best way as individuals and society to address, change and reduce very serious problems like abuse, violence, abhorrent behaviours etc is to try an understand the mechanisms and behaviours of not only the perpetrators but also those of enablers, family, community and as a nation.

Sonic asked the question why only one successfull prosecution.

Do you know why or what the solution is ?
I don't, but without trying to look at the dynamics of families and abuse, like in the case of domestic violence where victims refuse to press charges and return to their abusers ... unless you attempt to reason why that happens, you are going to be left with many cases of abuse, few prosecutions and merely the demand as to "why ?" and looking for someone to blame.

Maybe one solution is providing and tailoring more services, information and resources for parents and especially a parent who has a partner that they feel is either a risk to the children or actually has already abused them - giving them guidance and support to enable them to come forwards in confidence and give evidence or hopefully get the children safe before it happens.
I am not sure how much of that already occurs and what levels of resources and funding, but information and discussion seems like a positive approach to me.