Guidance

Call for evidence - now closed

Updated 21 October 2021

Wendy Williams launches the Windrush Lessons Learned Review call for evidence

1. Introduction

The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary pledged to support those of the Windrush generation who have faced difficulties in establishing their status under the immigration system. They have committed to do right by those who have contributed so much to the UK and who are such an integral part of the country.

The Home Secretary has been leading a series of measures across the Home Office to achieve this. On the 2 May 2018, he announced a lessons learned review to make sure crucial lessons were identified and learned as quickly as possible, to prevent something like this happening again.

The Home Secretary appointed Wendy Williams on 22 June 2018 to be the Independent Adviser to the review. She is responsible for making sure it is conducted credibly and robustly. The terms of reference and methodology for the lessons learned review were published in Parliament on the 19 July 2018.

The review would like to hear from as many people as possible who can offer an insight into what happened. As the methodology sets out, this will include talking to Home Office staff of all grades and hearing directly from people affected, as well as their families.

We also know there are others outside those two main groups who will be able to offer valuable perspectives into what happened and why. This includes immigration advisors and lawyers who may represent those going through the UK immigration system or who are subject to immigration controls; research and academic institutions with an interest in migration, immigration and race; and other non-governmental organisations.

We are also interested in hearing from parties who were part of maintaining the ‘compliant environment’: for example, employers, local authorities and landlords. This call for evidence will enable us to learn from these groups.

2. Who this call for evidence is for

This call for evidence is mainly focused on organisations, in particular:

• non-governmental organisations
• immigration lawyers
• advice organisations
• employers
• landlords
• local authorities
• charities
• think tanks
• academics
• other interested organisations

3. About this call for evidence

This call for evidence was issued on 20 August 2018 and will run until 19 October 2018.

During that time, we welcome written comments sent by email. We will also be getting in touch with community groups and representatives of those affected to discuss their views.

We want the best possible understanding of what has happened and what needs to change, so something like this can’t happen again.

4. The questions we want to answer

In your response to each of the questions below, please be as concise as possible.

We want to hear your thoughts on these questions:

1. What, in your view, were the main legislative, policy and operational decisions which led to members of the Windrush generation becoming entangled in measures designed for illegal immigrants?
2. What other factors played a part?
3. Why were these issues not identified sooner?
4. What lessons can the Home Office learn to make sure it does things differently in future?
5. Are corrective measures now in place? If so, please give an assessment of their initial impact.
6. What (if any) further recommendations do you have for the future?

We will also consider any information (for example, reports and previous correspondence) that you feel is relevant to the lessons learned review but that doesn’t directly apply to the 6 objectives above.

We will study and read carefully everything you tell us, and, where relevant, will consider it as part of the evidence base for the review.

The information you give us will be analysed alongside our internal data sources to help the review team answer these questions.

The Independent Advisory Group to the review may also review and discuss the information. We may contact you for further information if necessary.

5. How to send your responses

Please email responses to and any questions you have to HOwindrushlessonslearnedreview@homeoffice.gov.uk.

If you are interested in speaking to us over the phone or in person please indicate in your email.

6. Deadline for responses

This call for evidence closes at 11.59pm on 19 October 2018.

7. Confidentiality of your responses

Information you give in response to consultations may be subject to publication or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

The Home Office will only process any personal data it receives as part of this consultation (for example, any identifying material) according to data protection law. This means your personal data will only be used for the purpose of the call for evidence. It will not be disclosed to third parties unless the law requires it, and you will not be identifiable from any published reports.

If you want all, or any part, of a response to be treated as confidential, please explain why you consider it to be confidential.

If we receive a request for disclosure of the information you have given, we will take into account your explanation about why you consider it to be confidential. However, we can’t guarantee confidentiality.