Male circumcision may be performed for clinical reasons or to comply with religious or cultural practice. Non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC) is not uniformly available in the NHS but is undertaken, generally by highly skilled circumcisionists, in non-clinical settings in children (non-competent minors) without general anaesthesia. This is authorised on the basis of a best interest decision and parental consent. There are occasions, however, where failure to adhere to minimum clinical standards of care in these settings has led to patient harm. The recent sentencing of Mohammad Siddiqui is a timely reminder of the regulatory, criminal and civil sanctions that may apply to those who perform NTMC without adequate regard to minimum standards of care.