Senior clinicians have welcomed a new government drive to eradicate female genital mutilation.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced a series of measures at a summit in London yesterday.
These include laws to make parents responsible if girls are injured together with some border checks on children travelling to high risk countries.
Some £1.4 million is to be pumped into a prevention programme in the NHS.
This will include improved training opportunities and improved data collection.
There will also be new guidance on health professionals’ responsibilities for safeguarding children.
Earlier reports had suggested that training might become mandatory for clinicians.
Public health minister Jane Ellison said: "I am immensely proud of the work the government is doing to eradicate this dreadful practice. This will enhance the safeguarding responsibility of the NHS around female genital mutilation to care, protect and prevent."
Dr Tony Calland, chair of the British Medical Association’s ethics committee, welcomed the proposals.
He said: “Female Genital Mutilation is a form of child abuse that we need to do everything we can to stop.
“Any training that helps improve the identification and prevention of female genital mutilation is to be welcomed. Public sector workers in particular have a key role to play in battling this practice."
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