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Scotland Yard is investigating the alleged female genital mutilation of a baby from London.

The girl, a Briton of Malaysian descent, is understood to have been taken abroad and subjected to “type 4” FGM when only a few months old.

Her family is thought to have believed that the procedure — which involves pricking the clitoris and is known as circumcision in Malaysia — was legal. But it is a criminal offence in this country, and they are being investigated after their daughter’s injury was reported to police by medical staff.

The case, which comes at the start of the “cutting season” when girls have traditionally been taken abroad for FGM in their parents’ home countries, has prompted renewed fears that some families are breaking British law out of ignorance. Malaysia and Somalia are among the countries in which “type 4” practices illegal here are common and not regarded as FGM.

Detective Chief Superintendent Keith Niven, head of Scotland Yard’s rape and child abuse command, declined to comment on the new investigation, but warned that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.

“If anybody thinks it might be legal overseas and they can go there to get it done and they will not be prosecuted here, they are wrong.

“If they have a footprint in this country they are vulnerable to the law. We will seek to prosecute whatever type of FGM it is.” He said police still met parents at airports who were unaware of the law, and added: “There is some confusion, despite all the publicity. We are saying it’s not ok. It’s a strong message we want to get out because now is the season.”

The mutilation of the girl in the new London case is thought to have occurred several years ago in Malaysia, although the child is still under five. A source said her family had been shocked to learn they might face police action, as they are “very law-abiding”.

Police investigated a similar incident involving the cutting of another London baby of Malaysian origin, but there was no prosecution.