Stage 09 · The Law and Protection · Law in 60 Seconds

Law in 60 seconds

England & WalesChecked 27 Aug 2026

FGM is illegal in England and Wales. The law can help protect someone before harm and respond when harm has happened.

Some professionals also have specific reporting duties in certain known cases involving someone under 18. You do not need to memorise those rules. If you are worried, the safe step is to tell a trusted adult.

Teachers and professionals should use the maintained Law & Evidence route and current official guidance for exact duties.

FGM is illegal in England and Wales. The law also provides protective measures, including FGM Protection Orders, which can be used to protect a person at risk or someone who has experienced FGM.

Some specified professionals have a specific duty to report known cases of FGM in under-18s to the police. Suspected or at-risk situations remain part of wider safeguarding responsibilities and should not be treated as the same legal category.

Teacher/professional use must check maintained official guidance before delivery. Student learning does not require memorising legal sections, penalties or professional thresholds.

Teacher View

PurposeIntroduce law as protection, prevention and accountability — not legal trivia.

AskWhat can law help to do, and what can’t law do on its own?

MisconceptionLaw matters, but law alone cannot provide every service, relationship or practical safeguard.

SafeguardingStudent copy stays high-level. Teacher/professional copy must be jurisdiction-labelled and maintained.

Adapt / SEND–EALKeep the pupil task to three ideas: prevent, protect, hold accountable.

StretchOlder/professional routes can cover FGM Protection Orders, jurisdiction and mandatory reporting in detail.

Evidence of learningLearner explains one function and one limit of law.