‘Shockingly low’ number of people have accessed the Windrush Compensation Scheme

The number of people that have been able to access the Government’s Windrush Compensation Scheme has been described as “shockingly low” by a human rights charity.

The compensation scheme was set-up by the Home Office as part of its plan to right the wrongs of a scandal that forced black Britons who had arrived in the United Kingdom from the Caribbean to meet government requirements to prove their UK citizenship or residence rights.

As a result, they lost jobs, homes, health care, pensions and benefits. In many cases they were detained, deported and separated from their families.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, charity Praxis released data from a survey it conducted with 20 clients from the Windrush generation.

Only eight out of 20 people surveyed have been able to apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme since it was launched in April 2019. Just three of the 20 have received compensation in this time.

Praxis’ data underlines official Home Office statistics from March 2023, which indicate that less than half of those thought to be eligible have applied for compensation, and just 11 per cent have actually received compensation.

Those surveyed by Praxis have not applied for compensation because they did not know they could, or did not know how to.

Fitzroy Maynard lives in north London. His compensation claim has been pending for years.

He said: “Every time the Home Office asks for evidence, I have to relive the trauma they put me through. It’s so painful to revisit those memories time and time again.

“The Home Office should never have been put in charge to look after the compensation scheme themselves They should stop taking so long in processing claims – it feels that they have no intention to pay people their full due, and that they just want to wear us down.

“This is what is happening with me, after so many years I am disheartened, but I am still going to fight.”

Some of those surveyed by Praxis worry that, although they have experienced substantial losses as a result of the scandal, they don’t have enough evidence to meet the Home Office’s high burden of proof.

Still others are facing health issues that prevent them from engaging with this system entirely.

Sally Daghlian, Praxis’ chief executive said: “This compensation scheme only adds serious insult to serious injury for those whose lives have been devastated by the Windrush scandal.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly, the department that shredded thousands of lives is now failing at compensating its victims for the hardship they had to endure.

“The compensation scheme should be removed from the hands of the Home Office and managed by an independent body working closely with the communities affected, providing a simplified and speedy process with expert, independent representation available for claimants.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The whole of government remain absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the Windrush scandal.

“We have paid or offered more than £72 million in compensation to those affected and we continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible, but we know there is more to do, and will work tirelessly to make sure such an injustice is never repeated.”

Pictured top: Fitzroy Maynard ended up homeless because he could not prove his right to work in the UK (Picture: PA)