The Ministry of Justice has paid over £7 million to Medomsley Detention Centre abuse victims
The Ministry of Justice has paid approximately £7.2 million to Medomsley Detention Centre abuse victims as part of a compensation scheme.
As of 8 September 2021, 1,651 claimants have received a settlement - all of whom spent time at the youth facility.
Others who may have experienced abuse at the centre are being urged to come forward.
They must do so prior to 1 January 2022 to be considered for compensation before the scheme comes to an end on 1 July 2022.
What happened at Medomsley?
Situated near Consett in County Durham, Medomsley Detention Centre was a detention centre for young men.
Most were within the facility for minor crimes as part of Margaret Thatcher's 1979 "short, sharp shock" policy, which imposed tougher punishments on juvenile criminals.
While at the centre, some of the young men were subjected to abuse from officers ranging from sexual assault to grievous bodily harm.
Medomsley closed in 1988, but the first abuser had not been jailed until 2003.
A 2019 report from @krisjepson and @RBullockITV
In 2013, Durham Constabulary launched Operation Seabrook. Almost 2,000 witnesses were interviewed - making it the force's largest ever investigation.
Five former officers were sentenced as a result, meaning a total of seven abusers have been jailed for abusing young men at Medomsley.
How the Medomsley Compensation Scheme works:
Following the investigation and convictions, a group of solicitors who represented Medomsley victims established a compensation scheme with lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice.
Victims initially needed to make claims directly relating to one of the seven convicted men, but they now only need to prove they were in the detention centre at the same time as the officer who allegedly abused them.
Solicitors say the amount of money awarded depends on the length of time spent at Medomsley and the severity of abuse.
Receiving a settlement does not prevent victims from going on to access appropriate legal justice in the future. It simply provides financial redress for the suffering they endured at Medomsley.
The Ministry also emphasised that significant improvements have been made to the young offender's system since the closure of Medomsley.
They say these include:
The creation of a Youth Custody Service in 2017.
Regular Ofsted inspections of the youth offender estate.
The creation of the youth justice board and improved technology and CCTV as protective measures.
Staff who work with young offenders now receive specialist training and robust child protection procedures are implemented across the youth custody estate.