The Windrush Justice Inquiry Report

The Windrush Justice Inquiry is an independent, community-led
initiative established to confront the enduring injustices
experienced by the Windrush generation and their descendants. It aims to examine the systemic failures of the Windrush
Compensation Scheme, investigate the root causes of these
injustices within the UK’s immigration and citizenship systems, anddevelop a roadmap for comprehensive reform, restitution, and therestoration of rights. This report presents the rationale, structure,and strategic direction for conducting a “People’s Inquiry” that centres the experiences of affected communities and seeks meaningful, lasting outcomes.

Purpose and Rationale

The report begins by situating the Windrush scandal within a
broader historical and socio-political context. It highlights the longstanding failures of the UK government in addressing the harmcaused by wrongful detentions, deportations, denial of legal rights,and systemic racial discrimination. It critiques the Windrush Compensation Scheme, administered by the Home Office, for its lack of transparency, inaccessibility, and repeated failures to deliver justice. In response to these shortcomings, the inquiry asserts the
necessity of an independent, trauma-informed, and communityfocused process that can restore trust and hold institutions accountable.

Scope and Terms of Reference

The inquiry will investigate the specific policy failures and
administrative decisions that gave rise to the Windrush scandal, with a focus on the compensation scheme’s effectiveness, patterns of racial injustice, and broader questions of citizenship, identity, and belonging. It will also explore the implications for UK democracy and
the rule of law. Drawing on international human rights principles, the inquiry’s terms of reference are designed to ensure a transparent and legally grounded process that upholds the dignity and rights of those most affected.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Inquiry Process

Structured across three phases—pre-consultation, evidence
gathering, and publication, the inquiry will employ a diverse range of methods. These include public hearings, stakeholder interviews, expert testimony, academic and legal analysis, and written submissions. This participatory methodology will enable a rich and multidimensional evidence base, grounded in lived experience as well as professional and scholarly insight.

Stakeholder Engagement
Recognising that the Windrush generation comprises people from across the Commonwealth, including the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, and other former colonies, the inquiry adopts a deliberately inclusive approach. Engagement will focus on affected individuals, advocacy organisations, legal experts, and community leaders. A comprehensive public engagement strategy, supported by Community Liaison Officers, will ensure access, transparency, and culturally sensitive outreach. Special attention will be given to those
historically marginalised or excluded from previous official
processes.

Expected Outcomes

The inquiry will produce a series of interim and final reports, offering evidence-based findings and actionable recommendations for policy and legislative reform. These may include proposals for a Windrush Bill, the restructuring of compensation mechanisms, and reforms to immigration and citizenship frameworks. Although the inquiry’s findings are not legally binding, they are designed to exert significant moral, public, and political pressure to catalyse systemic
change.

Timeline and Milestones

Key milestones in the inquiry include the launch of public hearings, stakeholder workshops, the release of interim findings, and the publication of the final report. These steps are planned within a defined timeline to maintain accountability and momentum, while allowing for flexibility to respond to community needs and emerging insights.

Challenges and Mitigation

The report acknowledges the inquiry will face challenges, including limited trust in institutions, the non-binding nature of its recommendations, and potential resource limitations. To address these, the inquiry has adopted a trauma-informed, communitydriven model that prioritises transparency, independence, and cultural competence.

Strategic partnerships and careful planning will help mitigate these risks and ensure credibility and
effectiveness.

Conclusion
The Windrush Justice Inquiry represents a vital opportunity toaddress not only the failings of the compensation scheme but thebroader systemic injustices that underpin the Windrush scandal. Itcalls upon government institutions, civil society, and the public toengage with and support a process that places affectedcommunities at its centre. This inquiry is not merely a retrospective assessment of harm, it is a forward-looking effort to transform the relationship between the state and its citizens, guided by principles of justice, inclusion, and accountability.

Through its findings and recommendations, the inquiry seeks to build a foundation for a fairer immigration system and a more democratic society, ensuring that the rights, voices, and dignity of the Windrush generation and their descendants are fully recognised and protected.