Young victims of trafficking are particularly vulnerable to manipulation and further exploitation if they lack the safeguarding mechanisms which are made available to those who are accepted by the authorities as being under the age of 18. If a young person’s age is not accepted by the authorities, they may be detained and their case put through accelerated asylum procedures or they may be prosecuted and imprisoned with adults. They could also be accommodated with adults, which is inherently unsafe, and particularly dangerous for young people who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation. Where there are concerns that a case may be one of a trafficked child, this becomes, first and foremost, a child protection matter. Child protection issues (including safety, welfare, housing, therapeutic care and related needs as well as contact with the authorities/police) must take immediate precedence over concerns with determination of the age of the victim. A young victim of trafficking whose age is disputed should be given the benefit of the doubt.106 Unless and until their age is established via an in-depth assessment (as set out above), they should be accepted and treated as a child and provided with full access to appropriate support and services. HBF’s approach to age assessment HBF’s approach to age assessment and recognition is holistic and it has been accepted by the court and is being reported as a model of best practice: The Queen (KN) v LB Barnet [2011] EWHC 2019 (Admin) (para 60-65 ).107 In the case of KN v Barnet, the court accepted the evidence of the Helen Bamber Foundation with regard to the age of a young victim of trafficking in preference to that of a Local Authority age assessment and a forensic dental examination.108 This was because of Helen Bamber’s long term experience of working with young women who had been held in sexual exploitation, including young African women, and the significant period of time that had been spent with her client, “KN”. Engagement in a long term therapeutic relationship meant that detailed observations of the young person’s behaviour and mentality could be provided to the court. “She knows K well, and has had more than 30 sessions with her, amounting to more than 60 hours. She knows her better than anyone else who gave evidence before me…..In looking at the assessment of age made by the Defendant compared with the assessment of age that Helen Bamber provided, I have to say that I prefer without any qualification whatsoever the assessment of Helen Bamber.”109 7.7 Sexual Health Screening Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can potentially cause severe injuries, illnesses and disabilities in both men and women. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause urethritis and epididymitis in men, which can lead to infertility. Similarly in women, STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease with chronic pelvic pain and infertility, and they can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancies. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can harm a baby, and untreated syphilis can be serious or fatal. Depending upon the individual history of each person, sexual health screening may include: – Vaginal (urethral for men), oral and anal swabs for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. – Blood tests for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B and C. These blood tests may need to be repeated up to four months later depending on the last episode of sexual intercourse. – Examination for herpes and genital warts. – Offer of a smear test. – Offer of a pregnancy test for women. Some victims who have suffered rape are keen to be screened for STIs. However others may be reluctant to attend an STI screening because they perceive it as invasive and traumatic. They are often fearful of a positive result, particularly the possibility that they have HIV/AIDS. Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in Dealing with Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum 97