(1) After section 4 of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 insert -

"4A Anonymity of victims

Schedule 1 provides for the anonymity of persons against whom a female genital mutilation offence (as defined in that Schedule) is alleged to have been committed."

(2) Insert as Schedule 1 to that Act the following Schedule -

"Schedule 1 Anonymity of victims

Prohibition on the identification of victims in publications

1

(1) This paragraph applies where an allegation has been made that a female genital mutilation offence has been committed against a person.

(2) No matter likely to lead members of the public to identify the person, as the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed, may be included in any publication during the person's lifetime.

(3) For the purposes of this Schedule, any consent of the person to an act giving rise to the alleged offence is not to be taken as preventing that person from being regarded as a person against whom the alleged offence was committed.

(4) In any criminal proceedings before a court, the court may direct that the restriction imposed by sub-paragraph (2) is not to apply (whether at all in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, or to the extent specified in the direction) if the court is satisfied that either of the following conditions is met.