Independent investigation into Medomsley Detention Centre

More than 2,000 victims and survivors came forward to police reporting allegations of abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre which held men aged 17 to 21 between the late 60s and its closure in 1988.

The investigation, known as Operation Seabrook, concluded in February when the final prosecution of a former staff member took place at Teesside Crown Court. Having begun in August 2013 it was one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

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A number of ex-employees at Medomsley Detention Centre, in Consett, have been jailed for their role in a brutal regime that inflicted pain and fear onto young inmates before it closed. Eight have been convicted in total.

The Secretary of State for Justice on Tuesday (October 24) announced the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) would carry out a special investigation into the abuse that took place at Medomsley.

Announcing the investigation Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: “We have the deepest sympathy for the men who suffered sexual or physical abuse while detained at Medomsley Detention Centre and it is right victims get the answers and justice they deserve through this new investigation.

“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.”

Ombudsman Adrian Usher added: “The Secretary of State for Justice asked my office to carry out an independent investigation into what the Authorities1 knew about the abuse that took place at Medomsley.

“We will consider whether there were opportunities for the Authorities to have taken action or intervened at that time, and what actions (if any) they took in such instances.

“This is an important investigation to understand how this large-scale abuse was able to take place. We need to find out what the authorities knew and whether there were opportunities for them to have taken action at the time.”

The PPO will not re-investigate the facts of the abuse or individual incidents.

The investigation is expected to be completed within 18 months.

Medomsley Detention Centre.

North West Durham MP Richard Holden, who chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Medomsley, said: “The young men and boys abused at Medomsley in the 60s, 70s & 80s had to wait too long for justice.

“Since being elected I set up the APPG on the Medomsley Detention Centre in Parliament and met with victims and their legal representatives as well as the Lord Chancellor.

“Following the end of the criminal trials, I am now glad that a full investigation into what happened will take place and uncover the truth about what happened.”

Last July a compensation scheme for victims at the notorious borstal was extended until January this year.

David Greenwood from law firm Switalskis which pushed for the special investigation 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 PPO 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.”

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In 2019, five former prison officers – Christopher Onslow, John McGee, Alan Bramley, Kevin Blakeley and Brian Johnson Greenwell - were jailed for a total of more than 18 years for abusing former inmates at the detention centre following three separate crown court trials.

Roll call of shame. Eight former prison guards who were jailed following abuse investigation at Medomsley Detention Centre. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Ian Nicholson died before he could face a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Neville Husband, a disgraced Christian minister, was jailed for eight years in 2003 after being convicted of a series of sickening sex attacks on teenage boys.

The pervert tied up and blindfolded one of his young victims and took vile pornographic photographs of him after ordering him to get undressed.

In the final prosecution earlier this year Alexander Flavell, 89, was deemed unfit to stand trial but it was decided a jury would still rule on the facts of the charges he faced. Flavell, who is suffering from dementia, was excused from attending the trial of facts last month while his alleged victims gave evidence to a jury. He was found to have sexually assaulted a young inmate more than 50 years ago and committed misconduct in a public office.