It is thought that more than 3,000 women in Croydon have been affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

It is a procedure where the genitals of a woman or girl are deliberately cut, injured or changed without medical reason.

To tackle this problem, Croydon Council has now appointed its first specialist social worker to lead preventative work against FGM.

Their role will involve helping people who have undergone FGM and supporting those living in fear.

In the UK it is illegal and carries a 14 year prison sentence for carrying it out or helping it take place.

It is also a crime to take someone out of the country to have FGM to a country where it is legal.

In the past two years Croydon’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) worryingly received 122 referrals where FGM was the greatest concern.

And there are estimated to be 3,480 women and girls in Croydon who have been affected by FGM at some point in their lives.

A study by City University in 2015 estimated that from 2005 to 2013 there were 827 girls born to women with FGM in Croydon, and that in 2011 alone there were 136 girls between the ages of 0-14 years with FGM living in Croydon.

Councillor David Wood, deputy cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities, said: “This innovative new post as a strong addition to our safeguarding service.

“I am pleased our FGM specialist will be embedding themselves into the local community where they will be best placed to build trust and offer help to those affected and at risk of this procedure, as well as assisting colleagues in health, the police, education, social care and other frontline services.”

The new post will be based in Croydon’s Early Help team and will also support other social workers in responding appropriately to cases.

It is jointly funded by the council and the National FGM Centre – a joint partnership between Barnardo’s and the Local Government Association.

The social worker will also develop preventative work for cases involving breast flattening where a pubescent girls’ breasts are ironed, pounded or massaged to make the breasts disappear or delay their development.