UK PM David Cameron has pledged a serious crackdown on female genital mutilation following fears of an increase of cases this summer.

The Prime Minister has chosen to fast-track new laws aimed at targeting those being taken abroad to undergo the procedure. Cameron’s new measures, which will give local authorities, social workers and police officers the right to approach the courts directly if they should suspect a potential case, are to be enforced before schools take the summer break next month.

Initially, the laws were to be passed by parliament later on in the year. However, senior members of the cabinet, including Home Secretary Theresa May have agreed with the need of urgency in the matter.

Although FGM cases take place across the year, the summer holidays are expected to raise the number of procedures being undertaken as it is the time when family members can take their children back home to go under the knife.

In an interview with the UK press, Cameron said: “Female genital mutilation is a cruel and barbaric practice. At last year’s global summit in London, I said we should not rest until this abhorrent practice is stopped everywhere. But the fact that it is happening right here, to young women and girls in our own country, sickens and appalls me. These new orders will help in the fight against this horrific abuse.”

This comes following newly published figures that show 578 girls were treated for FGM in England in March alone. Cases compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre saw this brought the total number of cases to 3,963 since last September. Girls under 18 made up sixty of these cases.

Mary Wandia, FGM program manager for Equality Now, said: “It is fantastic that the UK is continuing to ensure that FGM is urgently treated as a human rights violation.

“We hope that the UK can become a model for other countries in terms of ending FGM, but psychological, emotional and health support is still urgently needed for survivors.”

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