AGE disputes: A last resort

Traumatic: too many children treated as adults

By Rishan, Media Ambassador

As someone who came to the UK as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child and who has been been through Home Office age assessment, I’m deeply disturbed by the findings of a new report. But, I am not surprised. 

There are too many young people who - after unimaginable journeys - have arrived in the UK hoping to find safety, only to be misjudged, disbelieved and placed in dangerous adult settings.

The Helen Bamber Foundation report confirms what we see far too often (and what we know is taking place):

children wrongly treated as adults

they too often face delays in decisions

the system traumatises​, instead of providing safety and protection.

​Decisions about unaccompanied asylum​-seeking children should be dealt with by professionals​, with consideration ​for their mental health and wellbeing.​ And age disputes should be a last resort​ - not the default response.

At KRAN, we believe every young person deserves to be treated as a child first, with compassion, dignity​ and support to rebuild their lives.

You can read more about the report here.