New casesof female genital mutilation in Birmingham have rocketed by nearly a third, according to new figures.

The number of incidents increased from 52 between October and December 2015 to 67 from January to March this year – a 28 per cent rise. The statistics were released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

In total 1,242 newly recorded cases of FGM reported across the country in the same time period.

Back in February, it was revealed that more than two cases of female genital mutilation were being reported in Birmingham and the West Midlands every day.

A spokesman from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said the figures showed how widespread the problem in the region was.

"There are no medical reasons to carry out FGM. It doesn’t enhance fertility and it doesn’t make childbirth safer. It is used to control female sexuality and can cause severe and long-lasting damage to physical and emotional health. FGM or female circumcision is usually carried out for religious, cultural or social reasons. But let’s be clear – it is child abuse and it causes long-lasting physical and emotional damage. The practice must stop.”

– NSPCC SPOKESMAN

http://www.itv.com/news/central/2016...t-30-per-cent/