Medomsley Detention Centre victims urged to come forward
A Government compensation scheme for people who were physically abused at the County Durham centre is due to come to a close soon
Victims of physical abuse at the Medomsley detention centre in Consett in the 60s, 70s and 80s are being urged to come forward and claim compensation.
Several law firms have worked to represent former detainees at the centre, which opened in 1961 and closed in 1987.
Now, the Ministry of Justice are paying compensation to people who were victims of physical abuse at Medomsley.
But the compensation scheme is set to end towards the end of the year.
In 2013, an official investigation into Medomsley was relaunched; Operation Seabrook.
Operation Seabrook conducted by Durham Police have convicted 7 of the centre's officers over 3 trials for misconduct and physical assault offences.
The final 4th trial is expected to take place in October 2021.
Molly Frost, a solicitor who's worked on the scheme, tells us hundreds of people were affected;
"Generally it was physical abuse that was more rife, I mean, there was lots of sexual abuse, but physical abuse...
"Virtually everybody who went there suffered from some form of physical abuse at Medomsley - it was just the regime there.
"So there's hundreds of people who would have been left without compensation."
Molly goes on to explain the compensation scheme shows the Ministry of Justice accepts things went wrong there:
"It's some sort of recognition that the Ministry of Justice accepts that people did suffer abuse at Medomsley.
"While - if we were to pursue the claims through the normal court process, those claims may not succeed - the Ministry of Justice is accepting they've got a social and moral responsibility to recognise that people did suffer this physical abuse at Medomsley."
They are urging former detainees to come forward - and can do so confidentially by calling 0800 955 5094 or emailing enquiries@jordanssolicitors.co.uk