Part 5: Virginity Testing and Hymenoplasty Offences Hymenoplasty Offences: England and Wales Section 148: Offence of carrying out hymenoplasty: England and Wales
Section 148(1) makes it an offence under the law of England and Wales for a person to carry out hymenoplasty. The person must either be in England and Wales or, if the person is outside the United Kingdom, they must be a United Kingdom national or habitually resident in England and Wales (subsection (3)). The victim of the hymenoplasty does not need to be a United Kingdom national or resident.
	Subsection (2) of section 148 defines hymenoplasty as the reconstruction of the hymen, with or without consent. The expert panel were clear that the benefits of an outright ban outweigh any argument that women and girls’ autonomy is undermined by no longer having access to the procedure.
	The expert panel confirmed that there is never a medical or clinical need to reconstruct the hymen. As such, a defence to this effect has not been included in the offence.
	"United Kingdom national" is defined in subsection (4).