A compensation scheme for victims of abuse at a notorious North East borstal has been extended, the Ministry of Justice has announced.

It means people who suffered physical abuse Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, now have until January 2023 to make a claim.

Previously the MOJ had announced a deadline for claims to be registered ended on December 31 last year.

The original scheme was launched to compensate victims without the need to go through complex legal proceedings. 

But many victims were left without compensation as they were unaware of the closing date to register their claim.

Sarah Magson, Head of Civil Litigation at Watson Woodhouse said: “The extension of the scheme is very much welcomed by survivors of the abuse.

“If you were detained at Medomsley Detention Centre and suffered abuse, you should come forward now to ensure your claim is submitted to the Ministry of Justice in time.”

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Medomsley Detention Centre operated  as a youth detention centre between 1961 and 1987 and it is estimated that around 7,800 prisoners served their sentence there.

At Medomsley, detainees were subjected to brutal abuse from multiple officers and staff during their time at the centre.

Since the introduction of the scheme almost 2,000 survivors of physical abuse have received compensation.

The extension allows for further claims to be submitted and for those who have not come forward to do so.

The Medomsley Detention Centre Compensation Scheme has been designed to be as simple and quick a process as possible.  

A claimant’s solicitor will obtain the evidence of a former detainee’s detention and progress the claim on their behalf, as well as advise them on the level of award they are eligible to receive.

The scheme then makes an award of compensation dependent on the length of their detention and whether a long-lasting injury has been sustained.  

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