Councillors have unanimously agreed to write a letter calling for public enquiry into the treatment of Windrush victims as well as support anyone in Watford who may have been affected.

The Windrush scandal came about in 2018 when it emerged people were wrongly detained, threatened with deportation, and in around 63 cases, wrongly deported from the UK.

The Windrush generation of migrants came to the UK between 1948 and 1971 and in 1971 were granted indefinite leave to remain.

As a result of government legislation in 2012, children who had come to the UK but had no documentation were subject to possible deportation after an administrative error.

The scandal led to the Home Secretary at the time, Amber Rudd, resigning.

At Watford Borough Council’s full council meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Matt Turmaine proposed a motion.

He said: “This is not a controversial motion but it is, of course, a hugely controversial issue.

“The government has had almost a year to sort this out but has shamefully failed to do so.

“The proposals in the motion; to oppose the criminalisation of the Windrush generation; to support a Windrush Day; to call on the government to hold a public enquiry into Windrush, will hopefully gain the support of the chamber.

“I would say that the final one, to offer support and signposting to Watford residents affected by the scandal who may be seeking help, is a chance for us to think big and ambitiously in how we respond.”

Writing to the Home Secretary via the Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, the motion states:

“Oppose the criminalisation of Windrush families. Introduce support for the Celebrate Windrush Day. Call on government to hold a public enquiry into the treatment of Windrush victims. Offer support and signposting to any Watford residents impacted by the crisis.”