Extension of the compensation scheme for former detainees of Medomsley Detention Centre
JORDANS AND WATSON WOODHOUSE SOLICITORS ARE HELPING TO SETTLE CLAIMS FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL ABUSE WHILST AT THE CENTRE
WERE you detained at Medomsley Detention Centre? Did you suffer physical abuse?
The current compensation scheme has been extended and any former inmates are being urged to see whether they are eligible for compensation for abuse suffered whilst there.
Jordans and Watson Woodhouse Solicitors, together with a number of other firms, have been working to seek justice for victims of physical abuse whilst detained at the Medomsley Detention Centre.
A youth centre in Consett, County Durham, Medomsley Detention Centre was open between 1961 and 1987. Whilst there, inmates were subjected to a brutal regime of physical violence and sexual abuse.
Former officers were investigated as part of Operation Seabrook and, in 2019, five were convicted of physically abusing detainees - the longest sentence being eight and a half years given to Christopher Onslow, the gym instructor. Two further officers are facing trial:
Ian Nicholson and Alexander Flavell. Initial scheme launch
In March 2020, the Ministry of Justice introduced a compensation scheme for former detainees who had suffered physical assaults by the convicted officers.
This initial scheme restricted compensation to detainees who alleged abuse against the convicted officers, namely: Christopher Onslow, John McGee, Brian Greenwell, Kevin Blakely and Alan Bramley.
Expansion of the scheme
Following firms’ further discussions with the Ministry of Justice, the expansion of the scheme was announced, on August 26, 2020.
The scheme has been extended, to enable former detainees who have made allegations against an officer, who has not been convicted, to be eligible to receive compensation under the scheme without going through complex legal proceedings. To be eligible for the scheme:
1. You must have suffered physical abuse committed by a member of staff who was employed at Medomsley during the period you were detained.
2. You must have independent evidence of your period of detention. This is usually by reference to PNC records.
There are no further criteria for the victims to prove that they suffered abuse.
Details of the scheme
Under the scheme, physical abuse is defined as “the direct application of unlawful force”. Therefore, punishments such as being ordered by officers to run the perimeter fence or being made to perform bunny hops will be excluded.
The scheme defines three categories depending on the length of detention and level of physical abuse sustained. The compensation under the scheme remains the same as the initial scheme. The provision for a higher award if a person had suffered a lasting physical and/or psychological injury is still available.
For an injury to be accepted as a “lasting injury”, the injury must have been persisted for a significant period of time beyond the period of detention and includes injuries such as, fractures, dislocations, scarring, depression and post traumatic stress disorder. It is necessary to have medical evidence to support the physical injury or psychiatric injury which has been suffered.
The length of the detention will take into account multiple periods of detention and will be based on the total length of sentence that a person served.
The awards of compensation have been agreed to reflect not only the assaults that a person suffered but also witnessing and living within the brutal regime at Medomsley.
The scheme was introduced just at the start of the first Covid lockdown, and has run very smoothly despite this; client’s claims and the receipt of compensation have been dealt with in a timely manner by the Ministry of Justice.
The team at Jordans and
Watson Woodhouse Solicitors commented that the response from clients has been positive: “Clients have been pleased with the speed and ease of securing compensation under the scheme.
“In our view, every detainee who suffered abuse at Medomsley should be entitled to compensation. We hope that our ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Justice will enable this to occur.
“We are also actively supporting the campaign for a public inquiry regarding the abuse that took place at Medomsley and how that could have occurred for over 25 years without discovery.”
It is important to seek legal advice before making a claim as there may be consequences attached to the settlement. The main consideration is the fact that settlement under the scheme would prevent any future civil claim.
The scheme will only apply to those who were physically assaulted.
Sexual assaults and Kirklevington Detention Centre
Jordans and Watson Woodhouse Solicitors can also help victims of sexual assaults outside of this scheme. The team, therefore, urges anyone who suffered abuse, whether physical or sexual, to get in touch.
Under the circumstance, it is strongly advised that any former inmates of Medomsley Detention Centre take steps to immediately register a claim. Likewise, any former inmates of Kirklevington Detention Centre, which is also a subject of an ongoing police investigation, should also make contact.
Jordans and Watson Woodhouse Solicitors have already settled hundreds of claims for clients who suffered physical or sexual abuse during their time in Medomsley, as well as also recording numerous claims on behalf of former inmates of Kirklevington.
Anyone affected is urged to contact Jordans and Watson Woodhouse Solicitors for further information via the phone 01642 034 134 or email medomsleyscheme@gmail.com.