Challenges and concerns

Determining age on the basis of appearance is subjective, and quasi-medical assessments have a wide margin of error and have been discredited. Despite this, NABA 2022 allows the Home Office to make regulations for “scientific” age assessment methods and for a decision-maker to make adverse credibility findings against those who refuse to undergo these methods “without good reason.”

These failings are exacerbated due to the fact that separated children arriving in the UK may come from countries where precise age is not considered important, or lack any documentation, or have forged documentation to assist with their journey. Notwithstanding the impact of trauma and language barriers.

The consequences of being treated as an adult and held in immigration detention are unimaginable and unjustifiable. Children suffer the physical and emotional consequences of being detained as well as being unable to access education and support from local authority social services.