Windrush children held wrongfully

TWO Windrush children were detained in “total violation of their human rights” by the Home Office, a joint committee on human rights has found.

Paulette Wilson and Anthony Bryan, who have lived in the UK since childhood, and are now adults, were both locked up twice by officials over their immigration status. However, a review of their files has shown that the Home Office had enough evidence to prove that both had the right to be in the UK. But a detailed review of their case files by the committee, which is chaired by Harriet Harman, found the Home Office already had enough evidence to prove both had the right be in the UK even when they were detained.

It came as Home Office documents revealed 850 people were mistakenly detained between 2012 and 2017, some of whom were living in the UK legally, costing the Government more than £21 million in compensation as a result. The files also revealed bonuses were paid to Home Office staff, linked to targets for enforced removals.