FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Industry insiders have told the Express they often meet migrants posing as children who are permitted to stay in the country because challenging them can put their career at risk. The revelations came after the arrivals of “child” migrants from Calais - who appeared to be much older than the teenage years they had claimed. Britain was once again divided over the issue with Conservative MP David Davies suggesting they should be made to undergo dental tests to establish their age.

STEVE REIGATE Child protection officers are afraid of challenging the age of young migrants

I just sign and say he's under 17 years because it’s not worth the hassle Social worker

His comments were met with fury by the British Dental Association (BDA) which said tests were “invasive” – a statement which was backed by the Home Office. But, speaking to Express Online a social worker who asked not to be named has revealed the REAL struggles faced by those in the industry. According to the specialist THREE professionals are assigned to the first meeting with a migrant who claims to be a child. And senior child protection officers are at their wits’ end.

He said: “So a social worker is assigned the case. The social worker attends the assessment and because the asylum seeker is claiming to be under 17 (to come under the children's Act) an appropriate adult is also in attendance and so is an interpreter. “Usually they enter the room and they see this asylum seeker is well over 17. It is that obvious. “After they have done the process three times all three social workers have to come to a consensus on the estimated age of the asylum seeker - so let's says all three say this asylum seeker is well over 17 or 18 years old. You would think that would be the end of the process, but not so. “They tell their managers of their decisions and then the manager tells them ‘If that's your decision then okay but the asylum seeker will now be assigned a solicitor to challenge your opinion and you are likely to be cross examined in court’.

TIM CLARKE Challenging migrants over their real age could put social workers' career at risk

After this phase of the investigation is complete, if a social worker chooses to challenge the age, they are reportedly met with anger and abuse. Many, he claims, have received calls calling them “racist” and have had complaints made against them. Those put in this position have said they “cannot afford” to fight it. One said: "I just sign and say he's under 17 years because it’s not worth the hassle." Social workers and child protection experts have called the system “broken” in Britain.

Migrant 'children' from 'Jungle Camp' arrive in the UK Wed, October 19, 2016 Migrant 'children' from the 'Jungle Camp' in Calais arrive in the UK to be reunited with relatives. Play slideshow 1 of 26

Express.co.uk recently heard comparisons over child migrant testing with that of the “humiliating” process disabled adults are made to undergo just to get disability payments they vitally need. The social worker speaking to the Express said the UK is having a “mental health episode” offering funds and assistance to people who have never paid into the system - and penalising those who have.

GETTY David Davies suggested migrants should be made to undergo dental tests to establish the age

GETTY Workers will say a migrant is underage becaude 'it’s not worth the hassle'