THE Windrush scandal was "foreseeable and avoidable" and victims were let down by "systemic operational failings" at the Home Office, according to an official report.

The Government department demonstrated "institutional ignorance and thoughtlessness" towards the issue of race and the history of the Windrush generation and the actions are “consistent with some elements of the definition of institutional racism”.

Author Wendy Williams told reporters: "Warning signs from both inside and outside the Home Office were apparent for a number of years, and even when stories began to emerge in 2017 in the media about high-profile injustices, I have concluded that the Home Office was still too slow to react.

"I talk about a culture of disbelief and carelessness when dealing with applications.

"This was born out of a conviction that the hostile environment policy would be effective, was effective, and should be pursued at all costs.

"I have also talked about a culture of ignorance and thoughtlessness when dealing with matters of race, the Windrush generation, their history and circumstances.

"The Windrush generation were let down by systemic operational failings by the Home Office."

Home Secretary Priti Patel issued an apology in the Commons.

She said: "As this review makes clear, some members of this generation suffered terrible injustices spurred by institutional failings spanning successive governments over several decades – including ignorance and thoughtlessness towards the race and history of the Windrush generation."

The Tory MP said there was an "ongoing mission" to put this right, adding: "Lives were ruined and families were torn apart, and now an independent review has suggested that the Home Office's institutional ignorance and thoughtlessness to the issue of race and the history of the Windrush generation contributed to this. This is simply unacceptable.

"I have heard of people speak of decision-making as a process, a process that grinds people down to the extent that it makes you want to give up.

"I have heard of people speak of being dismissed, labelled as a group of people who just didn't matter and whose voice on this issue was irrelevant.

"People have spoken to me about the indignity and inhumanity they still feel today by the experience of being made to feel unwelcome in their own country.

"They have described their experiences as unthinkable and unimaginable, however there are people across the UK and even some members of this House - including myself and the shadow home secretary (Diane Abbott) - for whom this is unfortunately all too relatable.

"There are lessons to learn for the Home Office but also society as a whole."

Patel continued: "Despite the diverse and open nature of our country, too many people still feel they may be treated differently because of who they are or where their parents came from.

"Today's report, which suggests in the Home Office there was an institutional ignorance and thoughtlessness to the issue of race and the history of the Windrush generation, is worrying for us all."

Labour MP David Lammy said the publication of the Windrush report could not have come at a "worse time" and that the Home Office needs to be rebuilt "brick by brick".

He tweeted: "The Windrush Lessons Learned Review is a brutal indictment of the Home Office, which shows it is wholly unfit for the society it is supposed to serve. The Windrush scandal was not an innocent mistake, but a systemic pattern of appalling behaviour.