More than 70 refugee children have been held in adult detention centers across the United Kingdom, according to reports detailing a systemic failure to protect unaccompanied minors. Advocates and the children themselves describe a harrowing environment where security personnel employed force that rights groups say borders on torture, leaving young asylum seekers with lasting physical and psychological scars.
The crisis centers on a contentious practice by the Home Office of disputing the ages of teenagers to bypass legal protections. Under current British law, the detention of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum is prohibited. However, by officially recording these individuals as adults, the government has moved them into adult facilities and, in several cases, initiated forced deportations to France.
Since September, the Home Office has seen 76 children with “disputed ages” placed in these centers. These minors predominantly originate from conflict zones in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eritrea, arriving in the UK after fleeing violence and persecution.
The Human Cost of Age Disputes
The physical evidence of the treatment within these facilities is stark. Reports indicate that during the deportation process and whereas in custody, children have suffered severe injuries, including lost front teeth, deep lacerations on their arms, and significant swelling of the limbs and legs.
Maddie Harris, a representative for the Humans for Rights Network (HRN), highlighted the compounding trauma these children face. Many had already survived human trafficking and torture in their home countries before entering the British system.
“Many of these children have survived torture and human trafficking and are suffering a sharp deterioration in their mental health as a result of often multi-month detention in the UK,” Harris stated.
The discrepancy between government records and reality has been exposed through official requests to local authorities. In multiple instances, social workers have formally recognized individuals as children shortly after the Home Office had classified them as adults to justify their detention.
Policy and the ‘One In, One Out’ Scheme
The surge in these detentions coincides with a geopolitical shift in how the UK manages its borders. In July 2025, the governments of the United Kingdom and France entered into a migration agreement based on a “one in, one out” principle.
Under the terms of this agreement, the UK is permitted to forcibly return migrants to France who crossed the English Channel in small boats. In exchange, London agrees to legally accept an equal number of asylum seekers from France who did not attempt an illegal crossing. The first deportations under this framework began in mid-September 2025.
Rights advocates argue that the pressure to meet the quotas of this agreement has led to the “age dispute” loophole, allowing the state to accelerate removals by ignoring the minority status of the detainees.
Status of Detained Minors
Of the 76 children identified by the Humans for Rights Network, the outcomes have varied based on legal interventions and social service reviews.
| Status | Number of Children |
|---|---|
| Released to Social Services | 26 |
| Currently in Adult Detention | 11 |
| Deported to France | 13 |
| Other/Unresolved | 26 |
Government Justification
The Home Office has defended the actions of its personnel, framing the use of force as a matter of necessity rather than abuse. The department maintains that security is paramount during the removal process.
Sources within the Home Office stated that in cases where individuals refuse to comply or offer physical resistance, law enforcement officers may be forced to use “reasonable and proportionate force” to ensure safety, compel the individual to leave the UK, or ensure they follow legal instructions while in custody.
However, legal experts argue that the use of “proportionate force” against a minor—regardless of a disputed age—violates fundamental human rights and international treaties regarding the protection of children.
This report involves descriptions of violence against minors. For those seeking support for trauma or refugee crises, resources are available through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The next critical development will be the upcoming review of age-assessment protocols by the Home Office, which is expected to address the discrepancies between departmental records and social service findings. Legal challenges are also pending in the High Court regarding the legality of the “one in, one out” deportations involving minors.
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