The Windrush generation came to our country from the Caribbean and have suffered badly from the government's 'hostile environment' to immigrants. Specifically they have been hounded to provide proof "beyond reasonable doubt" that they have lived here legally and continuously. This is the criterion used to prove guilt in a court of law; in UK we are deemed innocent until proved guilty. It ought to be the responsibility of the government to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that people have NOT lived here legally and continuously before they are deported. 

This petition asks the government to immediately implement all the recommendations from the Williams review, starting with "admit that serious harm was inflicted on people who are British and provide an unqualified apology to those affected and to the wider African-Caribbean community as soon as possible". It also calls for the government to utilise its own records (school records, NHS, NI and PAYE payments) instead of expecting people to pull together evidence for up to 50 years of living in the UK. 

I speak as a white, 64 year old Englishman who feels not only immensely sad for this group of people but also outraged at the way they have been hounded and treated with so little respect and empathy. I am fed up with review after review, kicking the can down the road. Let's all back this call for immediate government action - apology, Home Office improvement plan, reconciliation events with those affected, sort out compensation to those wrongly treated, be more proactive in identifying those wronged, introduce a Migrants' commissioner and set a clear purpose, mission and values statement which has at its heart fairness, humanity, opened, diversity and inclusion. 

If you are in any doubt please watch the BBC drama "Sitting in Limbo' which tells one victim's real story.

I know that the vast majority of Britons agree with this - if we can get 1 million signatures the government will have to take action. So please support this petition and start to rebuild Britain's reputation as a strong and successful multi-cultural society and start to restore pride in our great country.