Introduction
This page discusses an issue and possible solution around asylum seeking young people. Within this page I am not going to be addressing or commenting on asylum policies, legality or morality.
This page was emailed to a number of friends on 18th Sept 2010 
Issue
Asylum seeking young people often do not have identification papers which authorities commonly use to establish a persons age, within the UK there is no formal method of ascertaining age beyond formal documents or questioning. In the case of asylum seeking young people, there is a distinct advantage for them to claim they are children (i.e. under the age of 18). This could lead to young adults (i.e. those above 18) being cared for and housed with children (i.e. under the age of 18) and the associated child protection risks.
Solution
This page will be focusing on a formal process to ascertain whether a “Asylum Seeking Young People” is under 18 years of age or not.
Referal
Social worker or immigration officer believes/suspects an asylum seeking young person claiming to be under 18 is actually older than 18 they can refer the young person to a health care professional.
Healthcare Professional
The health care professional conducts a number of non-invasive tests which provide indication of age, specifically being
| Phase 1 – Changes in Body | Score very mature = 3 mature = 2 immature = 1 |
| Muscle development | |
| Penile development | |
| Pubic Hair | |
| Auxillary hair | |
| Facial hair | |
| Breast buds and breast tissue | |
| Skin changes | |
| Skin changes | |
| Score |
| Score equal to or less than 14 |
Score between 15 and 20 | Score above 20 | |
|
|
|
|
| Advice referer that young person appears to be a child. | Advice referer that age of young person is questionable and further tests required | Advice referer that age of young person appears to be older than 18 and if the young person disputes this further tests will be required | |
|
|
|
|
| Issue closed | Referer informs young person, and adviced on futher tests | Referer informs young person of results and offers them an opportunity to change their age statement | |
|
|
||
| Go to Phase 2 – X-Ray Tests | Young person changes age statement | ||
 |
|||
| No – Refer informs young person, and adviced on futher tests | YES – passed back to referer | ||
|
|||
| Go to Phase 2 – X-Ray Tests | |||
| Phase 2 – X-Ray Tests | Score very mature = 3 mature = 2 immature = 1 |
| Ossification of bones (wrist bones and long bones) and joints is a good marker for children | |
| dental condition and x rays, wisdom teeth often arrive later in young adulthood | |
| Degeneration changes as one gets older | |
| Vital Capacity | |
| Compare lung vital capacity for men and women and for given age groups. | |
| Score |
| Score equal to or less than 5 |
Score greater than 5 |
|
|
| Advice referer that young person appears to be a child. | Advice referer that age of young person appears to be older than 18 and if the young person disputes this further tests will be required |
|
|
| Issue closed | Referer informs young person of results and offers them an opportunity to change their age statement |
 |
|
| Young person changes age statement | |
|
|
| No – Refer informs young person, and adviced on futher invasive tests | YES – passed back to referer |
|
|
| Go to phase 3 Carbon dating tests | |
| Obtain a sample of bone biopsy from the young person and measure the radioactive carbon within the sample. Subtract this from the current levels of carbon in the atmosphere to establish age. Link to supporting articule | |