Member

On Amendment 27, the noble Baroness’s lead amendment, I agree with her on the importance of safeguarding children. On 30 June this year, the Government introduced additional safeguards in criminal cases to mitigate the risk of a genuine child being imprisoned in an adult prison for immigration offences. When an individual who has been assessed to be significantly over 18 maintains their claim to be a child and is identified for potential criminal charges, the Home Office will provide for an abbreviated age assessment to be conducted by qualified social workers. Anyone determined to be a child or needing more in-depth assessment will be referred to a local authority for an assessment.