The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has updated the So-Called Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage guidance to recognise breast-ironing, which involves flattening a girl’s chest with a hot stone or other objects to delay breast growth, as child abuse. CPS legal guidance makes clear to police and prosecutors that breast-ironing is a crime even if it is said that the victim has consented.

 

The offences to be considered by prosecutors include child cruelty and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious harm. Both crimes are punishable by up to ten years in prison.

 

Further details are available here.