Government appeals for advice to avoid Windrush repeat

How to prevent a repeat of the Windrush affair is the subject of a new call for evidence issued by the UK Government.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Sajid Javid are leading the appeal for "as many people as possible [to] offer an insight into what happened" in the scandal, in which people from Commonwealth countries who had lived and worked in the UK for most or all their lives found themselves faced with deportation earlier this year for lack of official documents confirming their residence here.

The call is particularly addressed to organisations and professionals, including immigration advisers and lawyers who may represent those going through the UK immigration system or who are subject to immigration controls; research and academic institutions with an interest in migration, immigration and race; and other non-governmental organisations. Ministers also want to hear from employers, local authorities and landlords who have had duties imposed in relation to creating the hostile environment for illegal immigrants, now being referred to as the "compliant environment".

The exercise is part of the "lessons learned" review to which Wendy Williams has been appointed independent adviser to make sure it is conducted credibly and robustly. 

Particular questions posed for response are: 

• What, in your view, were the main legislative, policy and operational decisions which led to members of the Windrush generation becoming entangled in measures designed for illegal immigrants?
• What other factors played a part?
• Why were these issues not identified sooner?
• What lessons can the Home Office learn to make sure it does things differently in future?
• Are corrective measures now in place? If so, please give an assessment of their initial impact.
• What (if any) further recommendations do you have for the future?

The Government will also consider any information (for example, reports and previous correspondence) that respondents feel is relevant to the lessons learned review but that doesn’t directly apply to the above objectives.

Click here to view the call for evidence. The deadline for responses is 19 October 2018.