High Court condemns 'systemic failure' as Home Office found unlawfully neglecting vulnerable detainees

16 hours ago7 min read2 comments

A High Court judge has ruled that the Home Office has operated an unlawful system for years, failing in its fundamental duty to protect vulnerable migrants in detention. Mrs Justice Jefford’s landmark judgment identifies a profound and systemic breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment.The court found the department's safeguards to be operationally broken, exposing thousands of traumatised individuals to further harm. The case, brought by a detainee referred to as MA, revealed critical failures in the 'Adults at Risk' policy, healthcare provision, and safeguarding.Inspectors and charities have long warned of suicides, severe mental health crises, and the unlawful detention of torture survivors in defiance of official guidelines. The judge concluded the Home Office treated vulnerability as a bureaucratic exercise, not a human reality demanding urgent action.This ruling establishes a clear legal accountability for the department's institutional inertia and could lead to compensation claims from thousands of detainees. It demands a complete overhaul of Home Office culture, training, and oversight, challenging the priority of enforcement over welfare and dignity in the immigration system.

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#Home Office

#immigration detention

#high court ruling

#human rights

#vulnerable migrants

#unlawful treatment

#UK government