Stage 09 · The Law and Protection · Teaching / Debrief
Law in 60 seconds
England & Wales Checked 27 Aug 2026
FGM is illegal under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. FGM Protection Orders provide civil protective measures. Section 5B creates a specific reporting duty for specified professionals in defined known under-18 cases. Suspected and at-risk cases remain within wider safeguarding procedures.
Advanced work should distinguish primary legislation, statutory guidance, procedural guidance and local professional policy rather than treating them as interchangeable.