No victims of female genital mutilation were seen by NHS services in Morecambe Bay between April and June.

But with more than 1,000 women seen over the period across England, the National FGM Centre said it is crucial that professionals work with communities affected by FGM “to change hearts and minds about the practice”.

No women and girls who were identified as victims of FGM were seen by health services in the Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group area between April and June, NHS Digital figures show. This was in line with the same period a year earlier.

Between one and seven victims of FGM were seen by health services in the North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group area.

Of those, at least one had their injuries reported for the first time, compared to none during same period last year.

Only approximate numbers are recorded in the data, to prevent identification of individual women. FGM, where female genitals are removed, cut or injured for non-medical reasons, is illegal in the UK, and people carrying out or assisting with the procedure can face up to 14 years in prison.

Across England, just 610 new FGM victims were identified between April and June as the country went into lockdown.

This was the lowest number for any three-month period since records began in 2015, and a 44% decrease from the three months to June last year. The overall number of patients either identified or being treated also hit a record low of 1,555.