Written evidence to be reported to the House
UK Borders Bill
11:18 am
Mr. Byrne: That issue is absolutely crucial. It is so important because we cannot have adults in the children’s system in this country. Equally, we cannot have children in the adults’ system. Establishing and verifying somebody’s correct age is essential, to the extent that we can and that science allows us.
Very often, of course, people seek to mislead the immigration service about an individual’s age. There has been a lot of debate about how it might be best to identify an individual’s age. There have been arguments in august journals such as The Guardian about whether, for example, dental X-rays are appropriate as a means of establishing a child’s age.
The issue that we have to confront is that if you undertake X-rays of wrists or collar bones, you are able to verify somebody’s age only plus or minus five years. That is quite a big range. As I understand it and as it has been explained to me, the truth is that if you use different methods, such as dental X-rays, that range is reduced from plus or minus five years to plus or minus two years. That is a significant difference in respect of the welfare of children. One of the key issues on which we shall seek to consult as part of our reform proposals on unaccompanied asylum seeking children is what is the best, most effective way of establishing a child’s age.
As I said, a fundamental principle is at stake: we cannot have children in the adult’s system and we cannot and must not have adults in the children’s system.