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<p>Regardless of age, all asylum claims lodged in the UK are carefully considered
on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention.</p><p>Where
clear and credible documentary evidence of age is not available, criteria including
physical appearance and demeanour are used as part of the process to assess whether
a person is under 18. The Home Office will treat a person claiming to be a child as
an adult only where their physical appearance and demeanour very strongly suggest
they are 25 years of age or over. When there is doubt about an individual’s claim
to be a child, Home Office policy is to refer them to the relevant local authority
to carry out a careful “Merton compliant” age assessment, which must be carried out
by two social workers and must adhere to guidelines set out by the Courts. Whilst
this assessment is ongoing, the individual will be treated as a child with full access
to the safeguards available to any child in the system, and the local authority or
Health and Social Care Trust looking after the individual remains responsible for
their care arrangements and the safeguarding of other children in their care.</p><p>The
Home Office keeps its policies and processes under review, and we remain committed
to striking the right balance between ensuring that children who claim asylum are
appropriately supported and maintaining the integrity of the asylum system by preventing
adults being treated as children.</p>
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