Durham Constabulary responds to Medomsley Detention Centre report
Main article content
Durham Constabulary has publicly apologised for the force’s historic failure to investigate decades of horrifying abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.
The apology comes as the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman publishes a report detailing physical and sexual abuse at Medomsley spanning from the 1960s to 1980s and the institutional failings which contributed to it.
Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said: “On behalf of Durham Constabulary I wish to publicly offer my sincerest apologies to those victims and their families for those failures.
“This report makes for extremely difficult reading. It exposes shameful failings by police at that time: both to recognise that the physical violence meted out by staff at Medomsley amounted to abuse or to adequately investigate allegations by those victims who did have the bravery to come forward and report what happened to them.
“Thousands of young men were let down by the system and are continuing to live with the wounds left by that abuse. Those victims were, and remain, our primary concern.”
The horrific physical and sexual abuse which took place at Medomsley was subject to a six-year investigation, the biggest in Durham Constabulary’s history, and the force has worked closely with the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report team to fully disclose the evidence uncovered during the three successive police investigations into Medomsley.
From 2001 onwards, two police investigations took place under the umbrella Operation Halter, and led to the conviction of Medomsley chef Neville Husband, who was ultimately sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for 15 sexual offences against trainees.
Those investigations ultimately led to the launch in 2013 of Operation Seabrook, the largest and most detailed police enquiry into institutional abuse in UK history.
More than 2,000 victims came forward to Operation Seabrook and 20,000 items of material were thoroughly examined over six years, with a team of 70 detectives on the investigation at its height.
Despite the difficulties posed by the historic nature of the witness evidence, nine former members of staff at Medomsley Detention Centre were charged with offences and brought before the courts. Five people were eventually convicted for their part in that abuse. One defendant was ruled not fit to stand trial and another died while awaiting court proceedings.
Chief Constable Bacon added: “All authorities should take time to consider this report and truly reflect on the horrifying failings which it has exposed.
“I am satisfied that policing standards at Durham Constabulary are worlds apart from those which sadly appear to have existed at that time.
“Modern policing practices, along with robust statutory safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable people and tighter scrutiny around standards, have transformed our approach to investigations and victim care.
“While nothing can begin to mitigate the scale of suffering inflicted on those young men over so long a period, Durham Constabulary hopes that those investigations are evidence of our commitment to achieve justice for victims, no matter how much time may have elapsed.”
Support services
Following the report published today by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman detailing abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham between 1961-1987, Durham Constabulary would like to offer the opportunity for anyone to come forward if they feel they have new information to share by clicking the ‘submit information’ tab below:
Previously more than 2000 survivors have contacted police to report they were abused while detained at Medomsley and six former members of staff have since been convicted of abuse offences.
Should you wish to access support, the following support services are available:
- The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides free, confidential healthcare and compassionate support to people who have experienced rape or sexual assault.
- Call 0330 223 0099 or visit www.themeadowsdurham.org.uk
- Durham Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) on 0800 138 2020 or visit [email protected]
- NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 (freephone 24 hour)
- Samaritans – freephone 24/7 – 116123
- Victim support – 0808 1689111
- Rape crisis helpline – 0808 5002222