Expressions of frustration appear 14 times in the progress report published by independent expert Wendy Williams, who was appointed to advise the Home Office on how to reform to avoid any future crisis. Reviewing the department’s progress in its commitments to address the problems posed by the Windrush scandal, Williams said while officials were ambitious in some areas, she was “disappointed by the lack of tangible progress or impetus to achieve the required cultural change.” ». Acknowledging that some positive steps had been taken, he said the department was at a “turning point” and if no improvements were made, it would be a matter of time before it faced another crisis. Williams was appointed in 2018 to investigate the causes of the Windrush scandal, according to which the UK government mistakenly classified thousands of legal residents as illegal immigrants. Her 2020 report contained 30 recommendations for Home Office improvements, and Home Secretary Pretty Patel later pledged to implement them all, promising to “build a fairer, more compassionate” section and committing to “a complete cultural transformation”. us”. But only eight of the 30 recommendations had been fully implemented, Williams said, adding that the department had not yet implemented the spirit of its recommendations, as it criticized officials for overstepping the progress they had made. “Much more progress is needed in policy-making and case management, which will be considered the main indicators of improvement,” he said. Wendy Williams, who was appointed to investigate the causes of the Windrush scandal. Photo: Home Office “I have seen limited evidence that a compassionate approach is consistently integrated across the department,” he concluded. She was also critical of the department’s failure to review the effectiveness of hostile environment policies – now known as “compatible environment” policies – which caused so many of Windrush’s problems. “Failure to complete the review of compliant environmental policy will fundamentally hamper the department’s efforts to learn lessons and move forward constructively,” he wrote. The ministry failed to appoint an immigration commissioner, whom Williams considers a key measure “to indicate systemic risks”. More work needed to be done to raise the level of black, Asian and minority staff to a higher level. Williams had found that an insufficiently different Homeland Security leadership team had “contributed to some of the thinking errors caused by the Windrush scandal itself.” Although some steps have been taken to address this issue, “success remains elusive and requires a much more dynamic approach,” he said. Williams was particularly concerned about the slow pace of the compensation program. A small survey of applicants in the Windrush compensation scheme conducted by Williams found that 76% said they were not treated with respect by Home Office staff and that 97% said they did not trust the Home Office to honor its commitments. . About 386 plaintiffs waited more than a year for their claims to be settled, 179 of whom have been waiting for more than 18 months. “I met people who were still in serious financial and personal difficulties two years after my initial criticism. Some could not find a job after a long time away from the job market. Others were in temporary accommodation, had to live with families or were evicted due to unpaid bills. “Some had serious debts,” he wrote. “Many continued to have unfulfilled physical and psychological needs and had experienced a sense of loss and destruction that had fundamentally affected their ability to cope, undermining their sense of identity and self-esteem.” Several anonymous Home Office officials interviewed by Williams also expressed concerns about the plan. Someone told her: “Our approach does not scream ‘correction of injustices’ or compassion, but ‘how little we can get away with paying’.” The Windrush compensation system has paid more than 45 45 million in 993 claims. It has also provided more than 14,800 people with documents proving their status or British citizenship. However, this is a fraction of the amount initially estimated to be paid, which is expected to be between 200 200 million and 39 390 million. At least 23 people died after applying, but before receiving any payment. Although the department has taken steps to introduce an in-house training program for empire and colonial heritage staff, only 163 people, out of a total of about 38,000, had visited the Windrush Learning Center in internal intranet system. Responding to the report, Patel said: “I laid the groundwork for a radical change in the department and a complete transformation of the culture. We have already made significant progress. “Having said that, there is more to be done and I will not falter in my commitment to all those affected by the Windrush scandal. “Many people have suffered terrible injustices at the hands of successive governments and I will continue to work hard to provide a Home Office worthy of every community we serve.” Windrush victim Anthony Bryan was unjustly detained for five weeks in immigration centers and was detained in 2017 on a return flight to Jamaica, the country he left when he was eight in 1965 and had not visited since. After his case was reported to the Guardian, officials acknowledged that he was legally in the United Kingdom. He has not yet resolved his claim for compensation and is appealing against the amount offered to him by the Ministry of Interior. “Their offer does not reflect what I went through – I felt like an insult. I do not think that the Ministry of Interior has changed. “When the spotlight is on them, they make promises, but once the public’s attention is distracted, nothing happens.”
