London MEP Marina Yannakoudakis and a group of campaigners wrote to the Home Secretary calling for FGM to be tackled in the same way as forced marriage because there are parallels between the crimes.

The Home Office set up a Forced Marriage Unit in 2005, which operates both inside the UK and abroad. It runs a helpline for victims and for professionals who deal with cases.

Ms Yannakoudakis said: “There are parallels between the issues of FGM and forced marriage.

“Both are problems within particular sections of society and in both cases there has been an awkwardness in the broader community over how to respond. But both issues involve the imposition of the will of misguided adults, usually men, on unfortunate females, usually young girls. Cruelly, in both cases, the imposition can create lifelong pain and anguish.”