Our Joint Head of Chambers, Grace Brown, was a participant in the Reforming Redress Schemes Roundtable and supports the recommendations in Reforming Redress Schemes Roundtable Report.
The Report, prepared by researchers at King’s College London, was published on 04 October 2024 and followed the roundtable which took place on 20 June 2024, convened by King’s Legal Clinic.
Other stakeholders at the roundtable included as other lawyers representing victims of the Windrush, Post Office, Lambeth Children’s Homes and Infected Blood scandals.
The aim of the roundtable was to identify whether reform was needed in the operation of Redress schemes relating to harm perpetrated by the state. The discussion focused on exploring critical problems, what had been effective and what structural reform was needed.
The Report has stated its key recommendations for reform include:
- [To] Create compulsory guidance with common principles for the setting up and operation of redress schemes.
- The establishment of a standing public body to act as a compensation authority and administer redress schemes relating to harm perpetrated by the state, to enable fair and independent outcomes.
The Report also draws on research by King’s Legal Clinic on the continued failure by the Windrush Compensation Scheme to deliver fair and accessible compensation to victims of the Windrush scandal.
Grace is regularly instructed in Windrush cases, the aims of which are to challenge apparent inequities and failings in both the Windrush Scheme and the Windrush Compensation Scheme. These effect not only the Windrush generation themselves, but often their families both in the UK and abroad.
She has detailed and in-depth knowledge of the legal, cultural and other issues that arise in Windrush cases and frequently advises solicitors, community groups and organisations on these issues.
