Comment 18 by VrijVlinder

@EvN:

I can't agree more. It is a crime treat it like one. Use laws in place for sexual assault on a child. If it was about incest the child would have been taken out of that home. This practice can be tried as a sex crime. It is a sex crime.

No need to go as far as sexual assault with all the problems proving such entails.

It's common assault, sentence of 6 months....cruelty to a child, sentence of 10 years.... actual bodily harm, sentence of 5 years.... and as far as I'm concerned it's grievous bodily harm, maximum sentence of life......

I have to ask why a special category was created for this heinous nonsense. I can only think it was for sentencing reasons...14 years for Female Genital Mutilation, see Legal Guidance. Until someone is actually convicted under the created legislation, it is a moot piece of law.