Legal News

In a further move to ban female genital mutilation (FGM) in Britain, the Department of Health has ruled that women with vaginal piercings must be recorded as having undergone FGM.

The Daily Mail reports that the new rules will apply to piercings on the labia or clitoris – often carried out as a cosmetic procedure and to enhance sexual pleasure.

The new rules mean that women with intimate piercings in “an abusive context” will be recorded as having undergone FGM, which is illegal in the UK.

It also means a practitioner who has carried out an intimate piercing on a female patient or client potentially may risk a criminal prosecution.

The new rules will come into force in April and follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidance that piercings are harmful procedures akin to FGM.

There is also controversy over cosmetic procedures involving surgical procedures to the vagina – so called “designer vagina ops” – which are used to enhance sexual pleasure or to tighten the vagina after a vaginal delivery in childbirth, which may result in stress incontinence.

Some anti-FGM campaigners say that cosmetic procedures on the female sexual organs should be classed as FGM. MPs have released a report which states that the police, midwives and FGM campaigners are “confused” over whether cosmetic procedures such as designer vagina operations fall within FGM laws.

The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it illegal to cut the sexual organs of girls under 18 without genuine reason for doing so, such as a health issue.

The Home Affairs Select Committee recently recommended that the Act should be extended to cover cosmetic procedures on women’s sexual organs, unless there is a health issue or a mental health issue involved.

The backlash against cosmetic procedures on female genitals means that eventually women may not be able to choose to have a procedure in the UK – and may have to travel overseas for genital aesthetic surgery or genital piercings, potentially risking their health if an untrained practitioner carries out the procedure.

If a procedure takes place in a jurisdiction outside UK or EU law, it may also be difficult to sue for compensation if cosmetic surgery goes wrong.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said:

“While there are challenges in this area and adult women may have genital piercings, in some communities girls are forced to have them.

“The World Health Organization has quite rightly defined this as a form of FGM.

“We are taking every precaution to record genital piercings that have been done within an abusive context.

“The new data collection will help build a picture of the scale and the nature of the problem we are facing.

“We are continually working on ways to improve and develop the NHS response to this terrible practice.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Duncan Lewis crime solicitors can advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including charges relating to allegations of assault or actual bodily harm as a result of surgical procedures, including cosmetic or aesthetic surgical procedures.

Duncan Lewis crime solicitors regularly visit police stations and courts to advise on criminal charges – there are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can usually be with you within an hour for representation during police interview under caution.

For expert legal advice on all criminal charges call Duncan Lewis crime solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For out-of-hours criminal law advice and representation, call the Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers Out-of-Hours Hotline on 07920 077057.