Medomsley Detention Centre abuse investigation launched

Medomsley Detention Centre closed in 1988

A new investigation into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre has been launched.

Thousands of inmates reported being attacked at the County Durham facility between 1961 and 1987.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) announced on Tuesday the inquiry would look into how authorities dealt with the allegations.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said: "It is right victims get answers and justice they deserve."

"While we recognise that it cannot make up for the horrific abuse these men experienced, nor its ongoing effect on their lives, I hope that the investigation will help bring an element of closure to victims and their families," he added.

The investigation into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre was one of the largest in the UK

The investigation team said it would not re-investigate facts of abuse or individual incidents.

Instead, it would focus on what the authorities at the time knew, what action they took and whether there were opportunities to have intervened.

The special investigation has been announced 18 months after the end of Durham Constabulary's Operation Seabrook, which led to a string of criminal convictions linked to abuse at the centre and was one of the biggest investigations of its kind in the UK.

'They must have known'

Peter Toole experienced physical abuse as an inmate in Medomsley Detention Centre

Peter Toole became an inmate at Medomsley in 1985, just weeks before his 21st birthday.

He is now 59 and still carries with him the trauma of being regularly beaten by cruel staff and of watching other young inmates being attacked and humiliated.

While he welcomed news of the fresh investigation, he does not believe it goes far enough to bring closure for victims like him, and would like to see criminal investigations reopened.

Describing his time at the detention centre, he said: "It was hell, the only word for what they did is brutal - the idea of closure is long out of the window.

"And the men who did this were family men, they had kids and yet they came to work every morning and they beat kids up.

"It will always be with me and I believe the authorities knew, they must have done.

"The hospital had lads going there all the time with broken bones, and I remember before I went, a police officer telling me what would happen to me if I ended up at Medomsley.

"There were houses just next to it, even the people who walked their dogs near the fences must have seen what was happening.

"Everyone knew if you went to Medomsley, you were going to get brayed."

The investigation has been welcomed by David Greenwood, a lawyer who acted on behalf of several Medomsley victims to take the government to judicial review proceedings at the High Court.

Mr Greenwood, of Switalskis Solicitors, said he hoped as many former detainees as possible would support the inquiry by sharing their experiences.

He said: "I'm really pleased the Medomsley boys are getting a proper independent investigation into what went wrong at Medomsley Detention Centre.

"I hope all the men abused will contact me and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to give their stories of abuse.

"We need to know how much was known by the prison service, police, probation and the NHS about the abuse as thousands of boys suffered unspeakably cruel treatment at Medomsley."

'Unfettered' access

The specialist team will study evidence held by Durham Police and relevant government departments in order to establish where and when they were aware of the abuse, and what if any action was taken.

Authorities are expected to provide the ombudsman with "unfettered" access to all material and investigators will also consider whether the government or policy at the time played a role in the mistreatment of young inmates.

Following the investigation, the PPO will publish a report of their findings that will be made public.

Funded by the Ministry of Justice, the investigation is expected to be complete within 18 months, though there is scope for it to be extended.