POLICE today carried out a proactive operation at Heathrow to raise awareness on International Day of Zero Tolerance on female genital mutilation.

Working with the UK Border Force, specialist officers targeted inbound and outbound flights to 'countries of prevalence' for FGM.

Educational and enforcement activities include:

Preventative work with passengers on outbound flights to 'countries of prevalence', including distribution of health passports

Intelligence-led checks on passengers and searches of baggage

Engagement with passengers from communities affected by the practice, which is illegal here

Identifying possible offences in order to take action against those responsible.

A number of passengers on a flight from Kenya this morning were spoken to. No offences were identified, but individuals were given guidance about the risks involved with FGM.

Passengers travelling to destinations, including Ghana, Doha and Abu Dhabi, will also be spoken to by officers at the airport, who will be handing out copies of the Home Office 'health passport'.

Det Chief Insp Jane Scotchbrook, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Today's activity is one aspect of our continued efforts to raise awareness of this form of child abuse.

"Our focus is on targeting those communities where offences of FGM are prevalent, by engaging with passengers travelling to and from countries where the offence is practised."