This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37700074
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Dentists condemn call for child migrants' teeth to be tested | Dentists condemn call for child migrants' teeth to be tested |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Tory MP's call for child migrants arriving in the UK from Calais to have their teeth tested to verify their ages has been condemned by dentists. | |
| Several unaccompanied children have arrived to join relatives in the UK - amid suggestions they could be adults. | |
| Monmouth MP David Davies said mandatory teeth checks would reassure people but the British Dental Association said it was unethical. | |
| Home Office sources said additional checks will be made in the UK. | |
| Norman Smith, the BBC's assistant political editor said it was understood they will undergo further interviews about their background and their finger prints will be taken to cross check with other records which may contain their age details. | |
| The first children with links to Britain arrived this week, after French authorities ratified a list drawn up by the charity Citizens UK, which is working with the government to bring unaccompanied minors over from Calais. | The first children with links to Britain arrived this week, after French authorities ratified a list drawn up by the charity Citizens UK, which is working with the government to bring unaccompanied minors over from Calais. |
| However, photographs of some of the children have been printed on the front pages of some national newspapers, along with headlines questioning their ages. | However, photographs of some of the children have been printed on the front pages of some national newspapers, along with headlines questioning their ages. |
| Mr Davies, chairman of the Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee said that one of the migrants arriving had "lines around his eyes and looks older than I am". | Mr Davies, chairman of the Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee said that one of the migrants arriving had "lines around his eyes and looks older than I am". |
| He said: "If they are jumping on lorries, they are not going to be adverse to lying about their ages. We should do the tests." | He said: "If they are jumping on lorries, they are not going to be adverse to lying about their ages. We should do the tests." |
| He added: "We don't want to vilify anyone... but if we don't raise these questions we are not going to be able to help the people who need our help." | He added: "We don't want to vilify anyone... but if we don't raise these questions we are not going to be able to help the people who need our help." |
| But the BDA, which represents dentists and dental students in the UK, disputed claims that dental radiographs can accurately determine whether someone is under the age of 18 or not. | |
| Age checks | Age checks |
| Clinical tests are not used by the authorities to assess migrants' ages. | Clinical tests are not used by the authorities to assess migrants' ages. |
| If they have no birth certificate, passport or other documentation, officials make an assessment of their age based on "physical appearance and demeanour". | If they have no birth certificate, passport or other documentation, officials make an assessment of their age based on "physical appearance and demeanour". |
| Home Office sources said children arriving from Calais would be subject to further age checks in the UK, Norman Smith, the BBC's assistant political editor said. | Home Office sources said children arriving from Calais would be subject to further age checks in the UK, Norman Smith, the BBC's assistant political editor said. |
| He said it was understood they will undergo further interviews about their background and their finger prints will be taken to cross check with other records which may contain their age details. | He said it was understood they will undergo further interviews about their background and their finger prints will be taken to cross check with other records which may contain their age details. |
| However sources added it was extremely unlikely any migrants found to be overage would then be returned to Calais as they would be able to claim asylum in the UK regardless of the age. | However sources added it was extremely unlikely any migrants found to be overage would then be returned to Calais as they would be able to claim asylum in the UK regardless of the age. |
| How are the ages of child migrants verified? | How are the ages of child migrants verified? |
| A BDA spokesman said it was "vigorously opposed" to the use of dental X-rays to try to determine the age of asylum seekers. | A BDA spokesman said it was "vigorously opposed" to the use of dental X-rays to try to determine the age of asylum seekers. |
| "It's not only an inaccurate method for assessing age, but it is both inappropriate and unethical to take radiographs of people when there is no health benefit for them," he added. | "It's not only an inaccurate method for assessing age, but it is both inappropriate and unethical to take radiographs of people when there is no health benefit for them," he added. |
| Doctors of the World UK also called the idea "unethical and unnecessary" saying "healthcare workers are not border guards". | Doctors of the World UK also called the idea "unethical and unnecessary" saying "healthcare workers are not border guards". |
| 'Outrageous demand' | 'Outrageous demand' |
| Judith Dennis, policy manager for the Refugee Council, said she was concerned by media coverage questioning the appearance of those admitted to the UK. | Judith Dennis, policy manager for the Refugee Council, said she was concerned by media coverage questioning the appearance of those admitted to the UK. |
| "It is not possible to judge how old someone is by looking at them, and most people understand that teenagers' appearances vary widely." | "It is not possible to judge how old someone is by looking at them, and most people understand that teenagers' appearances vary widely." |
| Diane Abbott, Labour's shadow home secretary said it was "an outrageous demand, which would further violate the human rights of vulnerable refugees". | Diane Abbott, Labour's shadow home secretary said it was "an outrageous demand, which would further violate the human rights of vulnerable refugees". |
| "They have suffered insanitary and dangerous conditions and should have been admitted long ago," she said. | "They have suffered insanitary and dangerous conditions and should have been admitted long ago," she said. |
| "This is a vile, reactionary clamour. It distracts from the government's responsibilities to these refugees, which it has largely neglected to date." | "This is a vile, reactionary clamour. It distracts from the government's responsibilities to these refugees, which it has largely neglected to date." |
| French authorities have said they will close the Jungle camp - situated near the port of Calais, and close to the 31-mile Channel Tunnel - by the end of the year. | French authorities have said they will close the Jungle camp - situated near the port of Calais, and close to the 31-mile Channel Tunnel - by the end of the year. |
| UK officials in Calais have been focusing initially on unaccompanied minors who have the right to join relatives in the UK under EU legislation, known as the Dublin regulation. | UK officials in Calais have been focusing initially on unaccompanied minors who have the right to join relatives in the UK under EU legislation, known as the Dublin regulation. |
| Under the EU-wide regulation, asylum claims must be made in the first safe country a person reaches, but children can have their claim transferred to another country if they have family members living there. | Under the EU-wide regulation, asylum claims must be made in the first safe country a person reaches, but children can have their claim transferred to another country if they have family members living there. |