Teen asylum seekers left in limbo by age disputes

A growing number of under-18s seeking asylum in Scotland have been unlawfully recorded as adults and left in hostels for months with no help, the BBC has been told.

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Support agencies said they had seen a "massive increase" in such cases.

It leaves young asylum seekers in limbo, unable to access benefits because their age is disputed.

Support agencies said it meant they were vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and street homelessness.

Home Office guidelines state those seeking UK asylum who claim to be children must be given the benefit of the doubt until a full assessment is completed which usually takes about six weeks.

BBC Scotland spoke to Kwame, who was 17 when he arrived in Glasgow. He had travelled from Africa where he had been kidnapped and forced to work for no pay.

Kwame, who wishes to remain anonymous, says he travelled from Libya to Italy in a small boat.

"There were too many people," he says. "I was so afraid. I will never forget the water, the waves, and the water filling up in the boat. Then a helicopter came. We were rescued."

He travelled from Italy to Glasgow in the back of a lorry thinking that in Scotland he would reach a point of safety.

"The police caught me and put me in a hotel," he said.

"Two days later social workers came. They asked my age. I said I was 17. After 10 minutes they said 'you are not under 18' and just left. I said to them 'I know no-one here'.

"It was so cold. I didn't know the language. I was so worried."