Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order (FGMPO)

The Female Genital Mutilation Act was amended by section 73 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 to include FGM Protection Orders.

Anyone who is worried that a female is at risk of female genital mutilation can apply to the local FGM court centre for a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order (FGMPO). The FGMPO might contain such prohibitions, restrictions or other requirements for the purposes of protecting a victim or potential victim of FGM. This could include, for example, provisions to surrender a person’s passport or any other travel document; and not to enter into any arrangements, in the UK or abroad, for FGM to be performed on the person to be protected.

Breach of an FGMPO is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, or as a civil breach punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.

For further information see Get a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order.