New UK Law Lets Home Office X-Ray Asylum Seekers to ‘Prove’ Age – Experts Slam It as ‘Pseudoscience’
Controversial Age Checks Kick In
From Wednesday, the Home Office can use what it calls ‘scientific methods’ to determine the age of asylum seekers. This includes X-rays of molars, hands, wrists, and MRI scans of thigh and collarbones. The move has sparked outrage from experts and campaigners alike.
Dental Experts Call It ‘Pseudoscience’
The British Dental Association (BDA) hit back hard, branding the use of radiographs “pseudoscience” that fails basic ethical and accuracy standards. They warn children will be exposed to unnecessary radiation just to satisfy government demands.
Thousands of Children Caught Up in Age Wars
- Border Force officers often reassign birthdates based on a quick visual check, no thorough assessments.
- Many underage asylum seekers end up wrongly classed as adults.
- Investigations found children locked up in adult detention centres or threatened with deportation to Rwanda.
Charities Slam Forced X-Rays
Rebecca Merry from Care4Calais said: “There is nothing ‘scientific’ about this legislation, no matter how hard the government’s PR machine works. Our Age Dispute Team has helped hundreds wrongly given adult birthdates. They come to us confused and distressed.”
She added: “Some even have official ID proving their age, ignored after minutes of visual checks. Forcing kids to undergo X-rays means unnecessary radiation, against medical advice. As the BDA says, ‘Dentists are health professionals, not border guards.'”
Calls for the Home Office to Fix the Real Problem
Critics demand the Home Office stop using dodgy, unproven methods and focus on the root causes behind misclassifying children as adults. This misclassification puts vulnerable youngsters in serious jeopardy.
