A significant cultural and systemic reform of the Home Office has been announced by Home Secretary on the release of the independent review into the Windrush scandal
Priti Patel has accepted all 30 recommendations of the 276 page Windrush Lessons Learned review carried out by Wendy Williams which uncovered evidence that the Home Office displayed “ignorance and institutional thoughtlessness” on the subject of race, in part consistent with institutional racism. The Home Office was also characterised by a “culture of disbelief and carelessness” which, according to the report, highlighted a “lack of empathy for individuals” within the department.
Patel has committed commission officials to undertake a full review and evaluation of the UK’s hostile environment policy in order to determine whether the measures exercised are proportionate in meeting their stated aim given the risks inherent in the policy, and she has also accepted the recommendation that the post of migrants’ commissioner responsible for advocating on behalf of migrants’ be created. Home Office staff will be educated on the history of the UK and its relationship with the rest of the world, including Britain’s colonial history, the history of inward and outward migration, and the history of black Britons.
Williams hopes any review carried out as a result of the report will be effected carefully and thoroughly in partnership with external experts and that its findings will be published in a timely fashion.
Patel also acknowledged that payments to those affected by the Windrush scandal have been slow with only 60 persons receiving recompense in the first year of the scheme. She acknowledged that the cases were complicated but noted that more than £1m had now been offered in compensation for losses individuals suffered as a result of not being able to demonstrate their lawful status.
