'Teen' asylum seeker lives alone

Nsira says she has found it difficult

An asylum seeker was sent to live on her own on Wearside despite claiming she was only 14.

Nsira Kourouma arrived in Britain from Guinea in Africa in November and told immigration officers she was 14, but they thought she looked older.

She is now living alone and says she feels threatened. Asylum groups are calling for a policy change.

The Home Office says if applicants look over 18, they are treated as adults until the individual proves otherwise.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ms Kourouma, who does not speak English, said: "I was very sad. It was very difficult for me because I didn't have anybody to talk to.

Credible evidence

"In the street people were laughing at me, insulting me. It was very difficult for me to be in here on my own."

Rodney Thomas, from the Washington Asylum Seekers Project, said: "There is a duty of care under the Children's Act and my opinion is that that law has been broken.

"I realise that that is one of the difficulties that confronts the authorities is people saying unnecessarily they are under 18 to get special benefits and special care.

"But it only takes a matter of five or 10 minutes with Nsira and it becomes quite obvious she is very young."

A Home Office spokesman said it could not comment on individual cases.

He said: "Where an asylum applicant claims to be a minor but their appearance strongly suggest that they are over 18, the Immigration Service will treat them as an adult until such a time as credible documentary or other persuasive evidence is produced which demonstrates the age claimed."

He said where the Immigration Service disputes an applicant's age, they can challenge the decision by approaching the social services department of the relevant local authority.