DETECTIVES have begun interviewing former prison officers over allegations that young inmates were physically and sexually abused.

Since August 2013, 915 men have told police that as teenagers they were abused at Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, County Durham, between the 1960s and 1988, when the centre closed.

Durham Police launched Operation Seabrook to investigate the claims.

Around 300 have alleged they were assaulted by Neville Husband and Leslie Johnson, former Medomsley officers who have since died. Both were convicted after an investigation in the early 2000s.

Since last Thursday four men have been invited to attend formal interviews under caution at Durham and Consett police stations by the Seabrook team.

All were prison officers at Medomsley at differing times during the 1970s and 1980s and have since retired.

They were not arrested but may be interviewed again.

Det Supt Paul Goundry, who is leading Operation Seabrook, said: “Our initial priority was to gain a full understanding of how Medomsley Detention Centre operated during that time.

“We also needed to make counselling and professional support available to anyone who needed help, and I am really pleased that almost 200 victims have taken up this offer.

“Many of those who have contacted us had never revealed to anyone else what had happened to them at Medomsley all those years ago.

“It has been a traumatic experience for some, and I appreciate their courage in coming forward and making that initial call.

“A principal aim was to identify a number of people we needed to speak to about the allegations that have been made.

“The actions we are now taking are crucial to that aspect of the operation, and there are a number of other former employees we will be making contact with over the next few weeks.

“We have been liaising with the Prison Officers Association (POA) over the last few months and anyone we interview is made aware of the legal support the POA can provide.

“There is still a huge amount of work which has to be done and we are in close contact with the Crown Prosecution Service, who ultimately will decide if there are grounds to charge individuals with criminal offences.”

Up to 70 detectives from the major crime and safeguarding teams have been involved in Operation Seabrook.

Counselling and support for Medomsley victims is available via the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre, known as The Meadows, 0191-301 8554.