Councils must check age of asylum seekers

A high court judge has ruled that local authorities must make a
proper investigation into the age of young unaccompanied asylum
seekers and not just go on the way they look.

The ruling came in the case of a male asylum seeker, who claimed
to be 17, and took successful legal action against Merton council’s
decision to treat him as if he were over-18. Extensive enquiries
will now have to be made by the council to determine the boy’s
age.