A Staffordshire Police Cadet has been shortlisted for a national Lord Ferrers Award which recognises outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing.
Emily Williscroft, a cadet at the Cannock unit was put forward for the Volunteer Police Cadet Individual Award for her outstanding work on educating other cadets on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She will find out if she has won at a special dinner on 9 September.
FGM, sometimes called female circumcision, involves the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It usually happens between the ages of four and ten and can have serious consequences for a woman’s health and in some instances lead to death.
FGM is a hideous crime which almost always goes unreported and around 24,000 girls are currently at risk of FGM across the UK which means that this is a problem that cannot be ignored in Staffordshire.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Arnold said: “Staffordshire should be extremely proud of Emily for being nominated for the award, as I am.
“She has shown excellent confidence and hard work toward educating the other cadets about FGM.
“Around 24,000 girls are currently at risk of FGM across the UK which means that this is a problem that cannot be ignored in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
Emily said: “I was nominated for the award by the Deputy Chief Officer, Graham Smout, for all of my work regarding FGM. I have been a Staffordshire Police Cadet for two years in October and have worked my way up to section leader.
“Since the start of this year, I have been visiting other cadet units and making them aware of what FGM is, the side effects and what signs to spot.
“I’m very grateful that my hard work has finally paid off and I feel very honoured to be shortlisted.”
