Consett community invited to share memories of Medomsley Detention Centre as abuse probe continues
More than 1,800 men reported that they were either physically or sexually abused at the Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveThe Consett community is being asked to share its experiences of a detention centre where young men were abused. More than 1,800 men reported that they were either physically or sexually abused while being held at Medomsley Detention Centre, in County Durham, during the 1970s and 1980s, after police launched an investigation into historical crimes at the facility.
Thanks to the bravery of victims who came forward to relive their ordeals in court, a number of retired prison officers were prosecuted and jailed for their roles in the vile abuse.
A new investigation carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which aims to discover whether authorities could have stepped in to stop the abuse at the time, is continuing. And now the PPO is asking local people to share their memories of Medomsley at an event next week.
The community outreach event will take place at Consett Heart Heritage and Arts Centre between 2pm and 5pm on Thursday, October 24. The PPO hopes it will be an opportunity to hear from as many local people as possible and members of the public are being encouraged to drop in and share their experiences.
The PPO was commissioned by the government in October 2023 to carry out a special investigation into the abuse that occurred at Medomsley Detention Centre between 1961 and 1987. Investigators working on the probe, codenamed Operation Deerness, have already spoken to scores of victims and their family members, as well as some survivors who have not previously come forward in other police investigations into Medomsley.
The Operation Deerness team can be contacted by email at ppomedomsleyinvestigation@ppo.gov.uk, or by mobile/text on 07511 165 266. There is also anonymous online questionnaire.
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