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Sadiq Khan was today urged to lead a new campaign against female genital mutilation as a report called for London to be turned into a “zero cutting city” to protect girls from barbaric violence.

The London Assembly said that “positive progress” was being made in the battle to eliminate FGM, with police, health staff and teachers all working to tackle the problem.

But it warned that “new cases of FGM in London are still being discovered” and called for the Mayor to begin a publicity drive to spell out the dangers of mutilation.

In its report, the Assembly also urged Mr Khan to ensure better training for those likely to encounter girls and women with FGM, and to ensure that police have enough funding to pursue perpetrators.

Unveiling the findings today, Jennette Arnold, the assembly’s deputy chairwoman, said FGM was an “unacceptable” violent crime that inflicted “very serious, immediate and long-term consequences” on girls and women.

She added: “More needs to be done. It remains a hidden crime — still taking place behind closed doors, with many girls still at risk.

“New cases of FGM in London are still being discovered and London has the highest prevalence of FGM in the country.

“I am more determined than ever that London becomes a zero cutting city. We want the Mayor to champion the fight against FGM and translate his promises into action.”

Today’s report says the capital accounts for half of FGM cases recorded in England.

Brent, Southwark, Enfield, Ealing, Lambeth, Camden and Greenwich were all among the 12 local authorities with the highest number of new cases found between April 2015 and March last year.

Eight recommendations are made to address the problem, each involving the Mayor.

They include a call for Mr Khan to make clear what resources he will give to tackle FGM, and a demand that he “engage with communities affected by FGM” to raise awareness and improve preventative work.

Hibo Wardere, an FGM survivor and campaigner who helped the Assembly with its investigation into the problem, said the report was “exactly what’s needed — to go from talking about FGM, to doing something about it”.

Sophie Linden, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said “many girls” in the capital were at risk of FGM and that City Hall was working with police, health workers and others to tackle the problem.

She added: “FGM is an appalling practice, and the Mayor and I are committed to tackling it as part of our work to drive down violence against women and girls.

“It is crucial to raise awareness amongst parents about the dangers to their daughters.

“We’ve invested £250,000 in a pilot scheme across five boroughs providing specialist training to frontline workers who encounter FGM.

“We need to tackle the lack of understanding about FGM and ensure that people who carry out such barbaric practices are brought to justice."