Major celebrations for the Windrush generation are under way, but have lessons really been learned of their treatment?

Five years on from the scandal, thousands are still awaiting compensation, the Home Secretary has dropped some recommendation promises, and the Government’s reform unit has been disbanded.

Today marks the 75-year anniversary of the first group of Caribbean migrants aboard the Empire Windrush ship to arrive in Britain at Tilbury Docks.

From countries like Jamaica and Bermuda, they were brought here to help out following a labour shortage after the Second World War, and made significant contributions to cultural, social and economic life.

Carol Stewart, chairman of Medway Caribbean and African Association (MACA), said: “The celebrations of Windrush mark a milestone of people coming and rebuilding Britain but it’s tinged with a bit of sadness.”

Though they were British citizens, in 2017 it was reported that hundreds of the Windrush generation had been wrongly deported as illegal immigrants.

“There are people we know who have been sent back to the Caribbean who have spent their childhood turning into an adult here,” said Carol.

The 1971 Immigration Act allowed the Commonwealth migrants to stay, but the Home Office had not issued the paperwork they needed to confirm their status. Later in 2010, their landing cards were destroyed when the Home Office’s Whitgift Centre in Croydon was closed.

“Children who came on their parents’ passport, have to prove themselves. It’s disgusting, they’ve grown up here, they’ve been educated here.

“To have that threat hanging over you is distressing and disrespectful to people that have given blood, sweat and tears into this country,” added Carol.

Theresa May, who was Prime Minister at the time, apologised and launched an inquiry into the scandal which found the situation was “avoidable”.

A compensation scheme was set up to reimburse victims and the then Home Secretary, Priti Patel accepted all 30 recommendations of the inquiry, to avoid a similar situation occurring again in the future.

As of last year however, of the 15,000 who have made claims, only one in four have been successful and paid.

Carol said: “We know people that have died fighting the cause and waiting for things to happen.”

A large reason why the scheme has not worked out in favour of victims is believed to be because the burden of proof lies on them, and delays with application responses.

“All of a sudden they [the government] can’t find the passenger papers but in other parts of history they can find pay books and all sorts, but nothing for the people that came here as children,” said Carol.

Furthermore, three of the recommendations promised to be carried out were dropped this year by Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and according to a recent report just days ago, the Home Office unit responsible for reforming the department in the wake of the scandal has been disbanded .

Carol said: “It’s appalling that she has back-tracked on the recommendations – it’s a breach of human rights.”