Judgment finds systems designed to protect against inhuman and degrading treatment ‘unlawfully’ failing for years

The Home Office has failed to protect vulnerable migrants it locks up in detention centres, a high court judge has ruled.

Mrs Justice Jefford found an unlawful failure of the “systems” designed to protect immigration detainees from inhuman and degrading treatment under article 3 of the European convention on human rights and that these failings have been going on for years. The judgment could affect thousands of migrants who are at risk behind bars.

Victory thought to be first under new policy that normally refuses applicants such as refugees who enter illegally

A woman who fled rape and torture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 18 years ago and was denied British citizenship because she entered the UK illegally has won her case after a government U-turn.

It is thought to be the first victory under a new policy whereby citizenship applications from people such as refugees who enter the UK illegally will normally be refused. She successfully challenged the refusal in a high court case.

Campaigners call for quarterly data to be published in line with other departments instead of FoI route

Human rights and refugee campaigners are calling on the Home Office to be transparent about the numbers of asylum seekers who die in its care by publishing quarterly data as other government departments do.

The only way to obtain data about asylum seeker deaths is via freedom of information (FoI) requests to the Home Office, which officials do not always comply with. However, the NHS produces regular figures about deaths in hospitals and the Ministry of Justice does so with deaths in custody.

Release of 43-second video comes as senior church figures speak out against dangers of Christian nationalism

The Church of England has released a video in response to a Christmas carols event on Saturday being organised by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson amid calls from a growing number of senior church figures to challenge Christian nationalism.

In the 43-second video, Christmas Isn’t Cancelled, posted on the church’s YouTube channel, more than 20 people from the archbishop of York to schoolchildren speak about the “joy, love and hope” of Christmas. The message is “a simple reminder that Christmas belongs to all of us, and everyone is welcome to celebrate”, the C of E said.

Government plans for Crowborough training camp in east Sussex will be challenged in high court

A legal challenge against government plans to move hundreds of asylum seekers into a military camp in east Sussex has been launched in the high court.

This is thought to be the first challenge against a mass accommodation site for asylum seekers to reach the high court since Labour came to power.