(Queen's Bench Division (Administrative Court); Ouseley J; 17 January 2011)

The claimant was a national of Afghanistan and claimed asylum on entering the UK. At his asylum screening interview he said that he was 15 years old. An age assessment decided that the claimant was over 15, but the expert declined to make a final decision until the authenticity of identity documents was determined. After two further assessments the local authority concluded that he was over 18 and referred him to the National Asylum Seeker Support Service for accommodation. The claimant sought to judicially review the decision. 

The Administrative Court dismissed the claim and criticised both the claimant's experts.