CAMPAIGNERS in the North-East have welcomed the first publication of figures showing the number of women being treated for female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation or FGM is widely practised in 28 African countries and involves the complete or partial removal of external female genitals.

Despite being a crime in the UK, new figures show that NHS hospitals are treating many victims of FGM, including hundreds who have been treated in the last year.

The figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that 467 female patients treated at NHS hospital trusts in England were newly identified as FGM victims in the last year.

The figures also show that 1,279 previous victims of FGHM were being treated at the end of September 14.

While London has the highest number of cases in both categories, the North of England has the highest number of newly identified cases (75) and the second highest number of previously identified cases (177).

HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said: “Having accurate data about this crime is an important step in helping prevent its occurrence in the future. The information will support the Department of Health in their FGM prevention programme.”

Susan Mansaray, who set up the Purple Rose group in Stockton to campaign against FGM after fleeing her native Sierra Leone, welcomed the publication of the new figures.

“It used to be the case that nobody wanted to talk about this, but now I am so happy that everybody is talking about it," she said. "The figures show that people working in hospitals are more aware of FGM and more willing to report it.”

Ex-journalist Mrs Mansaray was forced to leave her home country because her articles criticising FGM angered the authorities.

Now her group gives talks in schools and universities as well as speaking to nurses and midwives about FGM.

While Mrs Mansaray was not aware of FGM being practised in the North-East she said she was aware of children being taken into care when the authorities became aware that the family were going to take a girl abroad for circumcision.

Professor Nicole Westmarland, from Durham University, who is an expert in the study of male violence against women, said: “It’s a step forward that we have finally got figures. The fact that so many health workers are coming forward to report FGM shows they are beginning to be more able to recognise and report it.”