Fears as more FGM cases identified
More than 500 cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) were newly identified in December, according to figures published today.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said 558 new patients at acute NHS hospital trusts in England were found to have undergone the illegal procedure.
The figure increased from 466 in November, but seven more trusts - 131 out of 160 - provided statistics than the previous month.
In all there have been 1,946 newly identified cases since September, of whom 47 were under the age of 18.
John Cameron, head of the NSPCC helpline, said: "These new figures indicate that female genital mutilation is a bigger problem in the UK than we thought and there are obviously children at risk of being subjected to this cruel and unnecessary practice right now.
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