Figures from the documents suggest that in the year ending September 2015, 65 per cent of the refugees who had their age disputed were found to be over 18, although the Home Office has no way of independently verifying their age.
Instead, the documents show that if a refugee is without their birth certificate, a Home Office screening officer will certify them as a child based on their “physical appearance” or “demeanour”.
The news comes after Conservative MPs yesterday questioned the ages of the 14 refugees who were brought to the UK from the Calais ‘Jungle’ migrant camp.
David Davies, the Tory MP for Monmouth, called for all refugees entering the UK to undergo rigorous checks to establish their age, such as dental investigations or X-rays.
He said: “It’s pretty obvious that migrants who are willing to risk jumping on moving lorries are not going to shy away from lying about their ages.
“We have to verify the ages independently with a test.”
Between September 2014 and September 2015, the ages of 590 asylum seekers were called into question, with 574 recorded as having an age assessment.
Of these 574, 371 were found to be adults upon being subjected to age checks.
Similarly, over the past decade, there have been a total of 11,121 age disputes, of which 4,828 were found to be adults.
The documents obtained from the Home Office say that refugees “should be treated as an adult if their physical appearance/ demeanour very strongly suggests that they are significantly over 18 years of age.”
It added: “All other applicants should be afforded the benefit of the doubt and treated as children.”
However, some MPs were upset by the Home Office’s regulations, with Mr Davies saying: “Currently Government advice is that they need to give these people the benefit of the doubt and that needs to change.
“I’m all for helping innocent children but it is completely ridiculous if we are just going to allow people in based on what they tell us.”
The Home Office defended its age assessment process, saying: “We work closely with the French Authorities to ensure that the cases applying to come to the UK qualify under Dublin.
“Initial interviews are conducted to gather medical conditions and age among other criteria.”
Up to 300 Afghan, Syrian and stateless Bidun children will arrive in Britain this week after officials were sent to Calais to help French authorities speed up the transfer of minors ahead of the dismantling of the Jungle.
“Click cluck click umanitamafbatussimanata click cluck click click…”
(Translation: Never mind the beard, I’m 15.)
Checking the teeth.
Giving em x-rays.
Sounds like they’re busily assessing the health and condition of their new slaves. Can’t sell em if they aren’t in top condition.
“All other applicants should be afforded the benefit of the doubt and treated as children.”
Sounds like the MS13 ‘policy’ in this country.