Home Office to back down on asylum age X-rays

In January last year, the UK Border Agency published its reform plans for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Better Outcomes: The Way Forward pledged to set up regional centres to assess age. A working group composed of medical practitioners, children's charities and the children's commissioner for England was also set up to examine proposals for compulsory dental X-rays.

But legal advice sought by the children's commissioner revealed that the medical examination of a young asylum seeker could cause serious harm and distress. In his report, Nick Blake QC states: "A medical procedure undertaken without the consent of an individual is an assault.

"A consent to a medical examination given by a child in circumstances where he is told that a refusal will adversely affect a decision on his asylum application cannot be described as freely given."

Lisa Nandy, policy adviser for refugees at The Children's Society, said there were serious objections to X-raying children: "X-rays can damage health, but if the alternative is to be treated as an adult, most children would feel little choice but to comply."

The Home Office said it would not comment before releasing the working group report.