Human rights experts have accused the home secretary, Priti Patel, of ignoring legal guidance in an attempt to target child asylum seekers who cannot prove they are under 18. The letter reassures councils that the Home Office will help fund any legal challenge arising from children being assessed. It states: “On the question of age, we ask that all authorities with UASCs [unaccompanied asylum-seeking children] they suspect are over 18 are given urgent age assessments. Priti Patel promised a review of the hostile environment last month, before urging councils to rush through age assessments. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PACritics said the latest crackdown risked doing mental and physical harm to child asylum seekers classified as adults in rushed assessments.

Source: The Guardian August 30, 2020 06:22 UTC