Apology to be sent to 18 Windrush detainees

Sajid Javid has apologised to 18 members of the Windrush generation who may have been wrongfully removed from the UK or held in immigration detention.

The Home Secretary took the step after a review by his department provided the clearest indication yet of the impact of the scandal.

A trawl of nearly 12,000 historical records has uncovered evidence suggesting 18 people suffered “detriment” because their right to be in the country was not recognised. The finding relates to individuals whose records indicate they came to the UK from the Caribbean before 1973 and stayed permanently.

But they were unable to demonstrate “continuous residence”, resulting in them being removed or detained in an immigration removal facility or a reporting centre.

One of the Windrush victims, Anthony Bryan from north London, was twice wrongfully detained and threatened with deportation from Britain. The 61-year-old has called for compensation to be paid urgently.

Mr Javid said he would be writing to apologise to the 18 who were the most likely to have suffered “detriment”.