THE fight against female genital mutilation and cyber crime has been given a boost with a new £200,000 pot of cash.

Anthony Stansfeld, police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, has launched the new grant fund for education bodies and health workers.

They will be able to to bid for money, which can then be used in projects to tackle the issues – which are two of Mr Stansfeld's main priorities.

The cash injection comes after NHS Digital statistics revealed last month there were 10 newly recorded cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Oxfordshire in 2016/17.

Thames Valley Police recorded 546 cyber-related offences in Oxfordshire last year – up from 506 the year before.

The police commissioner said he would encourage any organisation working to prevent FGM or cyber crime to apply for the new funding.

Mr Stansfeld said: "Prevention and early intervention in FGM and cyber crime are both key aims.

"FGM is a truly horrific crime which can impact a woman, physically and mentally, for the rest of her life, while cyber crime often sees the most vulnerable targeted, leading to exploitation and fraud.

"Both of these crimes need to be stopped."

The force's top officers and Mr Stansfeld have written to schools and health organisations to spot the signs of FGM, which is a priority in his five-year police and crime plan.

Bids are invited from organisations for projects which meet certain criteria.

Organisations tackling FGM will qualify for funding if they have training or other initiatives for key professionals such as teachers and health workers to encourage reporting, improve knowledge and the use of appropriate referral pathways.

They can also gain funding if they are looking to engage and educate in communities where there are people known to be at risk.

FGM involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other damage to the genital organs, for supposed cultural, religious or non-medical reasons.

This practice inflicts severe physical and psychological damage to the child.

While it is thought the crime predominantly takes place outside the UK, it is believed to be vastly under-reported.

The summer holidays are a particularly high risk time when girls may be taken out of the country for the procedure.

Signs that a girl is at risk of FGM include a long holiday abroad or attending a special ceremony to ‘become a woman’.

Funding to tackle cyber crime can be gained if a body is looking to improve public awareness of ways of online protection and is delivering prevention activities.

Mr Stansfeld has called for ‘considerable’ investment into fighting cyber crime in the county and for regional fraud investigation teams to be created.

He added: "I recognise that these aren’t issues that any one organisation can tackle successfully alone.

"To prevent female genital mutilation or cyber-crime it will require both partnership work and grass roots interventions and I hope that this funding will allow for work like this to be carried out across Thames Valley."

Organisations can find out more information on the criteria and how to apply by visiting bit.ly/2v1QhBG

Applications close at 4pm on September 5.