TWO THIRDS of “child” refugees who are questioned about their real age are actually adults, an official report has revealed.
The Sun reports that Hundreds of asylum seekers were last year found to be older than they claimed, according to Home Office figures.
The stats show that nearly one in seven of all refugees arriving in Britain claiming to be under 18 are really adults.
They came to light in a report compiled by the Government’s immigration watchdog David Bolt.
In the year to June 2017, a total of 2,952 self-declared children claimed asylum in Britain – many of them travelling directly from camps in Calais.
Around a quarter of those refugees – 705 in total – were quizzed by officials over suspicions they were lying about how old they were.
Two thirds of the cases which have been concluded led to officials declaring the “children” involved were in fact over 18.
That means over the course of the year, 402 migrants were found to be understating their age.
The officials’ checks do not involve any physical tests, but instead feature an examination of documents which could prove the age of the claimants.
Children who arrive in Britain unaccompanied are treated much more leniently by the authorities.
They are put up by local councils, which take responsibility for their welfare until they turn 18.
In October 2016, there was a huge row over child refugees after the UK accepted dozens of migrants who looked much older than they claimed.
Tory MP Tim Loughton told the Daily Mail last night: “We have been a soft touch in too many cases for asylum seekers who abuse our hospitality by elaborating their credentials.
“It is right we give a safe haven to those who are in danger but too often we have been too trusting.”