No age tests for migrants

ASYLUM seekers suspected of pretending to be children should be allowed to refuse medical age assessments, an official report has concluded.

An independent scientific panel was set up by the Home Office last year to draw up plans for how to assess the age of asylum seekers. While the experts suggested using various techniques, they said asylum seekers ‘should be free to withhold consent’ for medical tests.

The advice risks undermining ministers’ attempts to tackle adult asylum seekers who claim to be under 18.