UK: Fresh Windrush scandal investigation welcomed as 'scale of injustice demands a full reckoning'

Equality and Human Rights Commission will be launching a new investigation into how the Home Office handled the Windrush scandal

‘The Windrush scandal exposed decades of racism in law, policy and practice at the Home Office concerning immigration and nationality rights’ - Steve Valdez-Symonds

Responding to the news that the Equality and Human Rights Commission will be launching a fresh investigation into how the Home Office handled the Windrush scandal, Steve Valdez-Symonds, Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director at Amnesty International UK, said: 

“A full investigation by the Commission into racism in immigration and nationality policy and practice would be highly opportune at this time.

“However, if the Commission solely focuses on what is referred to as the ‘hostile environment’ policy of the last decade, this will be inadequate. 

“It will also be insufficient for the Commission to review compliance with existing race equalities duties at the Home Office since that department is granted significant exemptions from such duties and those exemptions ought also to be the focus of any effective review.

“The Windrush scandal exposed decades of racism in law, policy and practice at the Home Office concerning immigration and nationality rights. 

“The scale of this scandal and the many injustices done to its thousands of victims demands a full reckoning.”