In PRCBC’s experience, this failure to promote rights to British citizenship has a terrible impact on children and adults born in the UK or brought to the UK at a young age, many of whom suffer alienation and exclusion when missing out on being registered as citizens. Those affected are often young people from minority groups, in care, with histories of abuse or neglect, and who grow up in poverty, etc.
“Individuals born in the United Kingdom are not informed by state authorities about the possibility of acquiring citizenship. Equally, there is no process for advising minors not born in the United Kingdom of their potential eligibility using the discretionary power to register them.” (Page 201 of the report).