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<p>The Government has a legal duty to endeavour to trace the families of unaccompanied
asylum seeking children and to take into account their best interests. In response
to safeguarding concerns arising from reports that Albanian adults were falsely claiming
to be children, and in order to facilitate the family tracing process, the Home Office
piloted a process in late 2013 whereby information relevant to family tracing and
confirming identity was obtained from the Albanian authorities in respect of 215 individuals.
In all of these cases, the asylum claims had been refused and the Albanian authorities
had not been the alleged actor of persecution. The piloted process became business
as usual with effect from 29 January 2014. Checks are only conducted under this process
if such a step will not jeopardise the safety of the child and their family. The Albanian
authorities are provided with the names, dates of birth, identity numbers, places
of birth, addresses and contact numbers for the child and their parents. Published
Home Office guidance stipulates that the child should be informed shortly after point
of claim for asylum that the Home Office will take appropriate steps to endeavour
to trace their families.</p>
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