England's Children's Commissioner calls for end to unacceptable treatment of young asylum seekers

The oppressive nature of large parts of the asylum screening process makes it difficult for children to give a full and accurate account of themselves. This may have implications for the decision made on their asylum claim

• Posted on Mar 5, 2008

https://www.childrenscommissioner.org/adult/ccnews/index.cfm?id=1953&newsid=141

"On arrival your main thoughts are you are in a new country. You don't know what to answer. You don't know why you are being asked questions. You might say nothing. You might be scared." Ali, 16, Afghanistan

A new report 'Claiming asylum at a screening unit as an unaccompanied child' published Tuesday 3rd March by the Children's Commissioner uncovers a series of unacceptable practices faced by unaccompanied children when they apply for asylum in the UK. The arrangements at the Croydon Asylum Screening Unit (ASU), where young asylum seekers go to log their asylum claim, give their personal details and explain their journey to the UK, fail to see these children first and foremost as vulnerable and traumatised and does not address their basic needs, says Sir Al Aynsely-Green in the report.

The Children's Commissioner witnessed first hand the journey of unaccompanied children through Croydon ASU from entrance to interview. He is now calling for a redesign of the screening process to ensure that children are legally represented and have their basic needs for accommodation, food, cleanliness and rest met before they undergo intense and lengthy interviews with immigration officers.

At Croydon, Sir Al and staff from his organisation, 11 MILLION, found that some children were left hungry, thirsty and alone during the process. There was nothing for the children to do during the long waiting periods and no information on hand to help them to understand what was going to happen.

Last year, welcome improvements were made to create a more child-friendly waiting area. But having found that children were not accompanied by a 'responsible adult' or interpreter at crucial points in the process, the Children's Commissioner is now urging the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) to establish a dedicated post at Croydon ASU to address their welfare needs.

Other practices at the ASU were deemed by Sir Al as intimidating towards the children, some told him it was a frightening experience for them. For example, during screening interviews, children are required without explanation to sign each page of their interview record which is not read back to them for accuracy.

According to the latest figures from 2006, over 5,500 asylum applicants claimed to be unaccompanied children. Around, 3,250 were accepted as children by immigration officers, while the rest had their age disputed and were processed as adults. The policy and practices that lead to these disputes are criticised in the report as potentially unfair to children and open to abuse.

The Commissioner welcomed the initiatives that have been developed to identify whether children brought to the screening unit by adults who are not their parents have been trafficked. But, suspicions reported to children's services must be followed up and financial arrangements put in place to ensure that where necessary children can be taken into care.

The overall impression from the time spent at Croydon ASU was that staff are doing a very difficult job. But training is needed across the organisation for them to truly understand what it is like to be a vulnerable and frightened child.

The report has a series of recommendations aimed at improving how staff at the Border and Immigration Agency communicate with asylum-seeking children and keep them safe throughout the screening process.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children's Commissioner for England, said:

"We do not underestimate the importance, difficulty and sensitivity of screening. But this does not have to be a frightening, confusing or intimidating experience for children. They should never be left hungry, thirsty or alone to deal with the complicated process of claiming asylum in this country. The lack of attention to children's welfare can have severe implications for their physical and mental health during the lengthy interviews they are required to undergo at these units.

"The Immigration Minister has recognised that many immigration procedures are designed principally for adults. Current screening procedures fall squarely into this category. We welcome what the Government is striving for in its efforts to safeguard young asylum seekers. But their proposals must now extend to all parts of the system and should be fully compliant with all articles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. For the children's sake and the integrity of the asylum process, we hope the BIA addresses the concerns in this report as a matter of urgency."

1. 11 MILLION's report on claiming asylum at a screening unit as an unaccompanied child, is available on the website: https://www.childrenscommissioner.org/adult/index.cfm

2. 11 MILLION supports the 11 million children and young people in England to have their voices heard. The organisation is led by the Children's Commissioner for England, whose role was established under The Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice of children and young people and to champion their interests and bring their concerns and views to the national arena.

3. Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green became the Children's Commissioner for England on 1 July 2005. He was previously National Clinical Director for Children at the Department of Health and Nuffield Professor of Child Health at the Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Children's Commissioner for England

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