WE FEAR TERRIFIED KIDS WILL BE SENT TO RWANDA CAMP
Age assessment change could put children at risk
Changes in the age assessments of asylum seekers could see traumatised children wrongly sent to Rwanda as part of the controversial new refugee deal, campaigners fear.
Asylum seekers arriving in the UK who claim to be children but are judged to be adults are required to go through age assessments.
Previously, rules meant only those who looked over 25 were challenged on age claims. But in January the rules were changed by the Home Office to challenge those who look over 18.
Experts warn it will mean more children will be accused of being young adults – and sent to offshore centres in Rwanda.
Under the UK Government’s £120million Rwanda scheme, people deemed to have entered the UK unlawfully wi l l be transported to the African country where they will be able to apply for the right to settle.
The scheme will focus mainly on single men arriving in the UK illegally in small boats or lorries but refugee groups warn some could be age-disputed children.
Gar y Chr i s t ie, of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: “We are worried about the risk of a child’s age being incorrectly assessed as over 18, which would put them at risk of being sent alone to Rwanda.
“People fleeing war zones often don’t have birth certificates and identity documents to prove their age and are ‘assessed’ by immigration officials.”
Kenneth Watt, of British Red Cross, said: “We have real fears that if a child refugee is incorrectly assessed as an adult, they could be sent to Rwanda with adult men. We’re worried this could happen more once the Nationality and Borders Bill passes, as it aims to bring in discredited age assessment tools and lower the age defining a child to 18.”
Adult refugees and families are entitled to support, including accommodation and essential living needs, from the Home Office. Children are entitled to more, including residential care and education through local authorities.
A legal source said: “There’s a conf lict of interests for local authorities if they are called to a police station and asked to see if the young man who has escaped a cannabis farm is, in fact, 15 like he claims. If they judge him to be over 18, it’s not their problem.”
A spokesman for councils group Cosla said: “It is for individual local authorities to implement age- assessment processes, although there is practical guidance and existing training to support this work that has been developed in partnership by a range of experts.
“However, it is acknowledged that this is a complex and challenging area.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the new Nationality and Borders Bill would stop adults posing as children.
She added: “Everyone considered for relocation will be screened, interviewed and have access to legal advice.
“Decisions will be taken on a case-bycase basis and nobody will be removed if it is unsafe or inappropriate for them.
“We will not divulge the exact criteria as this could be used by migrants to abuse the system. However, it is wrong to say only single men will be considered.”