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-37706862
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Calais child migrants: 'Unethical' dental checks ruled out | Calais child migrants: 'Unethical' dental checks ruled out |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Child migrants from the Calais "Jungle" camp will not face dental checks in the UK to verify their age, the government has insisted. | Child migrants from the Calais "Jungle" camp will not face dental checks in the UK to verify their age, the government has insisted. |
| The BBC understands 39 children have arrived this week, but there have been questions whether some may be adults. | The BBC understands 39 children have arrived this week, but there have been questions whether some may be adults. |
| Conservative MP David Davies called for mandatory teeth checks to reassure the public, but the British Dental Association said this was unethical. | Conservative MP David Davies called for mandatory teeth checks to reassure the public, but the British Dental Association said this was unethical. |
| The Home Office said the migrants would face different checks once in the UK. | The Home Office said the migrants would face different checks once in the UK. |
| "We do not use dental X-rays to confirm the ages of those seeking asylum in the UK. The British Dental Association has described them as inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical," the Home Office said. | "We do not use dental X-rays to confirm the ages of those seeking asylum in the UK. The British Dental Association has described them as inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical," the Home Office said. |
| It is understood that further checks that will be used will include interviews with relatives in the UK and fingerprinting to cross-check with other records which may contain age details. | It is understood that further checks that will be used will include interviews with relatives in the UK and fingerprinting to cross-check with other records which may contain age details. |
| The new arrivals were placed on a list drawn up by the charity Citizens UK, which is working with the government to bring unaccompanied minors over from Calais. | The new arrivals were placed on a list drawn up by the charity Citizens UK, which is working with the government to bring unaccompanied minors over from Calais. |
| The list was ratified by French authorities, who would have carried out interviews with the children before they could travel to the UK. If they have no proof of age, officials consider their looks and demeanour. | The list was ratified by French authorities, who would have carried out interviews with the children before they could travel to the UK. If they have no proof of age, officials consider their looks and demeanour. |
| But since the migrants' arrival in the UK, photographs of some of them have appeared on newspaper front pages next to headlines questioning their age. | But since the migrants' arrival in the UK, photographs of some of them have appeared on newspaper front pages next to headlines questioning their age. |
| Mr Davies, Monmouth MP, said that one of the migrants arriving had "lines around his eyes and looks older than I am". | Mr Davies, Monmouth MP, 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." |
| Fellow Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is also calling for more stringent checks, said it was "very worrying" that "older migrants are reported to be pushing children out of the way". | Fellow Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is also calling for more stringent checks, said it was "very worrying" that "older migrants are reported to be pushing children out of the way". |
| But the British Dental Association, which represents UK dentists and dental students, said it was unethical to expose individuals to radiation and was an inaccurate way to check ages. | But the British Dental Association, which represents UK dentists and dental students, said it was unethical to expose individuals to radiation and was an inaccurate way to check ages. |
| Diane Abbott, Labour's shadow home secretary, called dental checks "an outrageous demand, which would further violate the human rights of vulnerable refugees". | Diane Abbott, Labour's shadow home secretary, called dental checks "an outrageous demand, which would further violate the human rights of vulnerable refugees". |
| And the Equality and Human Rights Commission said the tone of the discussion was becoming "irrational", adding that the "best way to protect children's rights is to treat them as children until proven otherwise". | And the Equality and Human Rights Commission said the tone of the discussion was becoming "irrational", adding that the "best way to protect children's rights is to treat them as children until proven otherwise". |
| 'Crow's feet' | 'Crow's feet' |
| One of the pictured "child migrants" is described by the Sun newspaper as looking 40 with crow's feet around his eyes. | One of the pictured "child migrants" is described by the Sun newspaper as looking 40 with crow's feet around his eyes. |
| But Citizens UK said it was thought this was a translator who was accompanying the children. | But Citizens UK said it was thought this was a translator who was accompanying the children. |
| British Red Cross charity worker Vanessa Cowan, who travelled with 14 of the migrant children, said they were "small boys" who seemed "quite young". | British Red Cross charity worker Vanessa Cowan, who travelled with 14 of the migrant children, said they were "small boys" who seemed "quite young". |
| "The perspective of the pictures or just the way the picture is taken could be deceiving and the boys that we brought were small boys," she said. | "The perspective of the pictures or just the way the picture is taken could be deceiving and the boys that we brought were small boys," she said. |
| Among them was a 13-year-old Afghan national who caused singer Lily Allen to break down in tears during a recent visit to Calais's Jungle camp, filmed by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. | |
| The teenager's transfer was fast-tracked after Allen brought his plight to the authorities' attention, with a TV piece in which she apologised on behalf of the UK for the danger he had faced. | The teenager's transfer was fast-tracked after Allen brought his plight to the authorities' attention, with a TV piece in which she apologised on behalf of the UK for the danger he had faced. |
| The boy is expected to be reunited with family in the UK later after completing screening and interviews with Home Office officials in south London. | The boy is expected to be reunited with family in the UK later after completing screening and interviews with Home Office officials in south London. |
| Dental checks 'inaccurate' | Dental checks 'inaccurate' |
| Home Office figures show that of the 574 asylum applicants who had an age assessment in the year to September 2015, almost two thirds (371) were found to be adults. | Home Office figures show that of the 574 asylum applicants who had an age assessment in the year to September 2015, almost two thirds (371) were found to be adults. |
| If any of the latest arrivals are found to be over 18, Home Office sources say it would be extremely unlikely that they would be returned to Calais as they would be entitled to claim asylum in the UK regardless of their age. | If any of the latest arrivals are found to be over 18, Home Office sources say it would be extremely unlikely that they would be returned to Calais as they would be entitled to claim asylum in the UK regardless of their age. |
| French authorities have said they will close the Jungle camp - 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 - 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 relatives 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 relatives living there. |