English test scandal: students wrongly accused of cheating launch legal action

Overseas students seek compensation from Home Office for unlawful detention and loss of earnings after it cancelled visas

A group of overseas students who were wrongly accused of cheating in the English language tests they were required to take to renew their study visas have launched legal proceedings against the Home Office, seeking compensation for unlawful detention and loss of earnings.

The government has made payments in at least two cases, but lawyers have expressed frustration at the department's refusal to agree a standard settlement scheme for wrongly accused students, which they believe would speed up the process of securing justice.