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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Four in 10 migrants crossing the Channel on small boats and claiming to be children lie about their age, official figures show
Four in 10 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats lie about being children, official figures show. Many are believed to have destroyed their identification documents before arriving in Britain in a desperate attempt to cheat the asylum system. Child refugees cannot be deported and have the rights to the same healthcare, education and sustenance as British children. Home Office figures show that from mid-2022 to June 2024, 11,449 age disputes were raised by UK Border Force staff. A staggering 1,305 of those caught lying about their age were from Afghanistan, in a bid to get special protection in the UK. While Sudan came below with 571 trying to con officials. A whopping 8,791 were resolved with 3,570 — 40 per cent — having lied about being under 18. And 355 Iranians, 325 Eritreans and 318 Vietnamese asylum seekers were caught pretending to be children. Last year, 56 per cent of disputes identified adult migrants lying about their age, figures from The Sun on Sunday revealed. It comes as a damning report by borders inspector David Bolt found a 'lack of curiosity from immigration staff about the genuine age of Channel migrants. So much so that one Iranian with grey hairs and stubble managed to pass for 17-years-old. The Government is set to trial AI-powered facial recognition technology to determine whether Channel migrants are being wrongly identified as children. The Home Office last week announced testing on new technology will begin later this year with the hope it could be fully integrated into the asylum system in 2026. There have long been fears that some of those who cross the Channel in small boats - who often don't carry official documents such as passports - are wrongly claiming to be children. Unaccompanied minors are more likely to be granted asylum than adults, with some suspected to be faking their ages in a bid to boost their chances of staying in the UK. In the first half of 2024, a total of 1,317 migrants claiming to be minors at the border were later judged to be adults. There were a total of 2,122 age disputes raised over the same period. Currently initial age decisions are made by Home Office staff based on a migrant's physical appearance and demeanour. A Home Office spokeswoman told The Sun: 'Robust age assessments for illegal migrants are vital to maintaining border security. 'We will start to modernise that process in the coming months through the testing of fast and effective AI Age Estimation technology at key Border Force locations, with a view to fully integrate Facial Age Estimation into the current age assessment system over the course of 2026.' The Home Office have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Forty per cent of Channel boat migrants who were asked lied about their age & often claim to be kids
FORTY per cent of Channel boat migrants who have claimed to be kids were actually found to be adults when challenged. The shock statistic shows the extent some will go to in a bid to cheat the asylum system. Among them were 1,305 from Afghanistan caught lying about their age to get special protection here. Many are thought to have destroyed their identity documents before arriving in Britain. Child refugees cannot be deported and must be given the same level of healthcare, education and sustenance as British children in care. Home Office figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday show that from mid-2022 to June 2024, 11,449 age disputes were raised by UK Border Force staff. Some 8,791 were resolved with 3,570 — 40 per cent — having lied about being under 18. Last year, 56 per cent of disputes involved migrants claiming to be kids being identified as adults. Over the two-year period, 1,305 caught lying were from Afghanistan, while Sudan was second with 571. And 355 Iranians, 325 Eritreans and 318 Vietnamese asylum seekers were caught out pretending to be kids. Last week, a report by the borders inspector David Bolt found immigration staff show a 'lack of curiosity' about the real age of Channel migrants. In one case, an Iranian with grey hairs and stubble was accepted as 17. Thick mud TRAPS channel migrants on UK-bound dinghy hours before Macron crunch talks AI age assessment tech is to be rolled out next year. Former Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke blasted: 'These figures show the scale of soft touch Britain.' The Home Office was asked to comment. A male migrant suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on a boat which launched from Equihen-Plage in northern France yesterday morning. 1
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults
Read on for the story of an Iranian national who claimed to be 17 despite having grey hairs and black stubble MIGRANT 'KID' BLUNDERS Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SMALL boat migrants who claim to be children are being given the benefit of the doubt by immigration staff - despite more than half turning out to actually be adults. A report has found that workers show a 'lack of curiosity' about the real age of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task' Credit: Richard Townshend Photography AI tech is set to be rolled out in 2026 which can accurately assess how old a person really is. Currently, anyone who says they are under 18 are treated as minors unless they look 'significantly' older. In one case highlighted by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt, an Iranian national who had grey hairs was treated as a child despite assessors thinking he was probably around 22. In 2024, over half - 56 per cent - of the individuals who claimed on arrival to be children were either later assessed to be adults or admitted that they were 18 or over. READ MORE ON IMMIGRATION RULING FEARS Palestinian gran wins right to come to UK for medical treatment sparking fears The two-day training given to assessors 'instructs officers that they should always give the benefit of the doubt to the individual where they are not sure about someone's claimed age and do not judge them to be significantly over 18'. The report states that a Vietnamese national was 'initially given the benefit of the doubt' as a child because workers said he had a 'soft face'. Another officer then raised concerns about his age because of his 'developed shoulders', 'huge hands' and a 'tiny bit of stubble'. In other assessments 'arrogance' was used as a sign that a migrant was an adult. One Iranian national presented with some grey hairs and black stubble on his face and claimed to be 17. Despite being assessed as actually 22 years old, he was 'given the benefit of the doubt' and treated as a child pending further assessment. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown It is acknowledged by the report that it is not always possible to assess the age of a young person through their physical appearance or demeanour, because different life experiences can stunt growth or change behaviours. David Bolt made eight key recommendations to the Home Office on the age assessment process, including reviewing the training given to officers by the end of year. In response, the Government accepted all recommendations and pointed out that they are rolling out Facial Age Estimation technology next year pending a trial. It has been trained on millions of images where an individual's age is known. Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said in a written statement: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task, and the Home Office has spent a number of years analysing which scientific and technological methods would best assist the current process, including looking at the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can play. 'In a situation where those involved in the age assessment process are unsure whether an individual is aged over or under 18, or do not accept the age an individual is claiming to be, Facial Age Estimation offers a potentially rapid and simple means to test their judgements against the estimates produced by the technology.' A procurement process is currently underway with the new tech set to be integrated into the current system 'over the course of 2026'.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults
SMALL boat migrants who claim to be children are being given the benefit of the doubt by immigration staff - despite more than half turning out to actually be adults. A report has found that workers show a 'lack of curiosity' about the real age of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel. Advertisement 2 Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task' Credit: Richard Townshend Photography AI tech is set to be rolled out in 2026 which can accurately assess how old a person really is. Currently, anyone who says they are under 18 are treated as minors unless they look 'significantly' older. In one case highlighted by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt, an Iranian national who had grey hairs was treated as a child despite assessors thinking he was probably around 22. In 2024, over half - 56 per cent - of the individuals who claimed on arrival to be children were either later assessed to be adults or admitted that they were 18 or over. Advertisement READ MORE ON IMMIGRATION The two-day training given to assessors 'instructs officers that they should always give the benefit of the doubt to the individual where they are not sure about someone's claimed age and do not judge them to be significantly over 18'. The report states that a Vietnamese national was 'initially given the benefit of the doubt' as a child because workers said he had a 'soft face'. Another officer then raised concerns about his age because of his 'developed shoulders', 'huge hands' and a 'tiny bit of stubble'. In other assessments 'arrogance' was used as a sign that a migrant was an adult. Advertisement Most read in The Sun One Iranian national presented with some grey hairs and black stubble on his face and claimed to be 17. Despite being assessed as actually 22 years old, he was 'given the benefit of the doubt' and treated as a child pending further assessment. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown It is acknowledged by the report that it is not always possible to assess the age of a young person through their physical appearance or demeanour, because different life experiences can stunt growth or change behaviours. David Bolt made eight key recommendations to the Home Office on the age assessment process, including reviewing the training given to officers by the end of year. Advertisement In response, the Government accepted all recommendations and pointed out that they are rolling out Facial Age Estimation technology next year pending a trial. It has been trained on millions of images where an individual's age is known. 'In a situation where those involved in the age assessment process are unsure whether an individual is aged over or under 18, or do not accept the age an individual is claiming to be, Facial Age Estimation offers a potentially rapid and simple means to test their judgements against the estimates produced by the technology.' Advertisement A procurement process is currently underway with the new tech set to be integrated into the current system 'over the course of 2026'. 2 More than half of Channel crossing migrants claiming to be children are turning out to be adults (stock picture)
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Channel migrants who claim to be children given benefit of the doubt despite over HALF turning out to be adults
SMALL boat migrants who claim to be children are being given the benefit of the doubt by immigration staff - despite more than half turning out to actually be adults. A report has found that workers show a 'lack of curiosity' about the real age of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel. 2 AI tech is set to be rolled out in 2026 which can accurately assess how old a person really is. Currently, anyone who says they are under 18 are treated as minors unless they look 'significantly' older. In one case highlighted by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt, an Iranian national who had grey hairs was treated as a child despite assessors thinking he was probably around 22. In 2024, over half - 56 per cent - of the individuals who claimed on arrival to be children were either later assessed to be adults or admitted that they were 18 or over. The two-day training given to assessors 'instructs officers that they should always give the benefit of the doubt to the individual where they are not sure about someone's claimed age and do not judge them to be significantly over 18'. The report states that a Vietnamese national was 'initially given the benefit of the doubt' as a child because workers said he had a 'soft face'. Another officer then raised concerns about his age because of his 'developed shoulders', 'huge hands' and a 'tiny bit of stubble'. In other assessments 'arrogance' was used as a sign that a migrant was an adult. One Iranian national presented with some grey hairs and black stubble on his face and claimed to be 17. Despite being assessed as actually 22 years old, he was 'given the benefit of the doubt' and treated as a child pending further assessment. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown It is acknowledged by the report that it is not always possible to assess the age of a young person through their physical appearance or demeanour, because different life experiences can stunt growth or change behaviours. David Bolt made eight key recommendations to the Home Office on the age assessment process, including reviewing the training given to officers by the end of year. In response, the Government accepted all recommendations and pointed out that they are rolling out Facial Age Estimation technology next year pending a trial. It has been trained on millions of images where an individual's age is known. Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said in a written statement: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task, and the Home Office has spent a number of years analysing which scientific and technological methods would best assist the current process, including looking at the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can play. 'In a situation where those involved in the age assessment process are unsure whether an individual is aged over or under 18, or do not accept the age an individual is claiming to be, Facial Age Estimation offers a potentially rapid and simple means to test their judgements against the estimates produced by the technology.' A procurement process is currently underway with the new tech set to be integrated into the current system 'over the course of 2026'. 2
