Assessments on two young men, carried out by social workers who were employed by the Home Office at the Kent intake unit (KIU) in Dover, did not adhere to adequate safeguards, judge Mr Justice Henshaw ruled.
The claimants, known as MA and HT, were interviewed between December 2020 and January 2021 at the KIU without an appropriate adult present, the court heard.
The claimants were also denied the opportunity to know why their claimed age was being disputed by the social workers and to explain any inconsistencies in their account.
Concerns were raised by Mr Justice Henshaw and the Refugee Council, which supported the claimants, over the fact that the assessment took place just hours after the arrival of MA and HT.
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