UK Immigration Priti Patel: sweeping reform of HO, review of Hostile Environment, Windrush, amnesty?

Описание: This is Paul Turner the Immigration barrister at Imperium Chambers

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Big changes at the Home Office?

Is this the end of the Hostile Environment that has brought misery to thousands - could it even be the beginnings of an anmesty for those in the UK?

Well as of a couple of days ago I would have said no.

However Priti Patel has announced in Parliament that there will be

“Sweeping reforms” to the Home Office culture following the Windrush scandal, after people were wrongly detained and removed. This scandal also highlighted the deport first appeal later and tougher rules on the right to work checks.

The Secretary of State stays that as a result there will be a "full evaluation" of the hostile environment policy.

Also as welcome news She also announced mandatory training for Home Office staff, reconciliation events with the victims of the scandal and diverse shortlists for senior jobs.

While this is a welcome change it seems it was prompted by a report into the scandal by
Wendy Williams, an inspector of constabulary, who accused accused the Home Office of demonstrating "ignorance and thoughtlessness” and of displaying aspects of institutional racism.

What is also welcome but surprising given the number of people and organisations criticising the Home Office the Secretary of State has admitted that the scandal has left "an ugly stain on the face of our country and our Home Office"

Apparently the sweeping reforms" will be to the Home Office culture and they would be "reviewing every aspect of how the department operates, its leadership, the culture, policies, practices and the way it views and treats all parts of the communities it serves”.

Some of the announcements might seem like window dressing such as A series of reconciliation events to rebuild the relationship between the Home Office and those who were affected by the scandal.

What is better is that there is to be Mandatory training for new and existing Home Office staff members "to ensure everyone working across the department understands and appreciates the history of migration and race across the country

Crucially there will be a review of "compliant environment" measures, formally known as the "hostile environment”

And this is where I hold out hope that if not an amnesty that there will be a more flexible approach in that the Home Office will create A "more diverse shortlists for senior jobs, specialist mentoring and sponsorship programmes to help develop a wider pool of talent and drive cultural change”.

In an acceptance of the failings of the Home Office, of which Priti Patel is responsible she said
"The injustices of Windrush did not happen because Home Office staff were bad people, but because staff themselves were caught up in a system where they did not feel they had the permission to bring personal judgement to bear,”

This seems to me to be a recognition that the Home Office is not fit for purpose - bad habits, verging on institutional racism have been allowed to fester.

However, this announcement of a sweeping reform across the board must surely, especially with a review of the hostile environment may well be the first step in either an amnesty, or legacy scheme as it seems to me that one of the first jobs the Home Office has to grapple with is how to deal with the million or so people living in the UK subject to the hostile environment.

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