"Timothy, who was given access to the department during a two-month review, found an excessively defensive approach among the Home Office's lawyers and a reluctance among senior officials to tell difficult truths to ministers. His report said too much time is wasted on identity politics and social issues, with staff spending work hours in listening circles to discuss their feelings about such matters. Another finding was the distrust from other government departments, who became particularly uncooperative after the Windrush scandal."
"In 2022 fatally overoptimistic forecasts led to serious overcrowding, with 18,000 people being unlawfully detained in horrific conditions, as well as an outbreak of diphtheria and scabies. This month, a coroner found that the Home Office missed opportunities to assess the mental health of an asylum seeker before he was moved on to the Bibby Stockholm barge, where he died in December 2023."
Home Office culture includes defeatism on immigration, excessive defensiveness among lawyers, and senior officials reluctant to tell ministers difficult truths. Significant staff time is devoted to identity politics and listening circles rather than core operational tasks. Other government departments distrust the Home Office and became less cooperative after the Windrush scandal. Operational failings produced the 2022 Manston asylum centre crisis, with fatal overoptimistic forecasts, severe overcrowding, unlawful detention of thousands, and outbreaks of diphtheria and scabies. A coroner found missed mental-health assessments before transfer of an asylum seeker to the Bibby Stockholm, where he died in December 2023. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood intends an overhaul.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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