A BRADFORD man arrested on suspicion of planning to subject his one-year-old daughter to female genital mutilation (FGM) has been released pending further investigation.

A Twitter message late yesterday evening from West Yorkshire Police inspector David Harland read: "Officers from @WYP_BradfordW have this morning arrested a male on suspicion of making plans (to) fly his one-year-old daughter to another country to subject her to Female Genital Mutilation.

"A significant arrest to protect the most vulnerable in our community."

Insp Harland said the man had been arrested in the Great Horton area of Bradford.

"It is a crime that involves the most vulnerable members of society and safeguarding measures have been put in place to protect those people."

Inst Harland said it was not clear yet which country the man was planning to fly his daughter to. 

He also asked for people to be vigilant at all times and if they see anything suspicious regarding potential FGM crimes to contact the police immediately. 

In 2014, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner started a campaign to raise awareness of FGM. 

Mark Burns-Williamson has also met a Bradford campaigner to discuss how victims can be helped.

FGM is a common practice in many African countries and has become an issue in the UK in recent years. It was made illegal in 1985.