More than 100 people have called police after probe into
abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, appears on BBC Inside
Out
More than 100 people have contacted police this week as claims that a
sex abuse scandal at a North East detention centre was covered up are
investigated.
Durham Police re-opened a probe into Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, County Durham, last autumn after revelations of abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s came to light in 2003.
It is thought hundreds of boys were targeted by sexual predators at the facility, and detectives are now probing whether a cover-up masked the full extent of the scandal.
Following a BBC Inside Out programme on Monday night, which included a police appeal for witnesses or victims to get in touch, 108 people contacted police.
Det Supt Paul Goundry said: “While we expect the vast majority of these will be victims who have not previously come forward, we can’t give an exact figure until the callers have been spoken to formally by the detectives working on the investigation.
“Some might be witnesses, for example or people who were not inmates at Medomsley but who may have information.”
“As we have always said, we cannot be happy that so many people suffered abuse while inmates at Medomsley but we are pleased they have had the courage and the confidence in us to make contact.
This also allows us to offer practical help and support to those who want it.”
Medomsley Detention Centre made headlines in 2003 when two men who once worked there were prosecuted.
Predatory prison guard Neville Husband, who was a serial abuser of young boys and who has since died, was convicted for sex attacks on nine youngsters while working at the centre.
Before he was prosecuted, Husband, from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, became a minister of Brighton Road and Cromer Avenue URC churches in Gateshead after 27 years in the prison service.
Husband was jailed for 12 years and store man Leslie Johnson for six. Johnson is also now dead.
If you were a victim of abuse at the centre or if you have any information relating to Medomsley Detention Centre, police can be contacted on 101.
Source
Durham Police re-opened a probe into Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, County Durham, last autumn after revelations of abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s came to light in 2003.
It is thought hundreds of boys were targeted by sexual predators at the facility, and detectives are now probing whether a cover-up masked the full extent of the scandal.
Following a BBC Inside Out programme on Monday night, which included a police appeal for witnesses or victims to get in touch, 108 people contacted police.
Det Supt Paul Goundry said: “While we expect the vast majority of these will be victims who have not previously come forward, we can’t give an exact figure until the callers have been spoken to formally by the detectives working on the investigation.
“Some might be witnesses, for example or people who were not inmates at Medomsley but who may have information.”
“As we have always said, we cannot be happy that so many people suffered abuse while inmates at Medomsley but we are pleased they have had the courage and the confidence in us to make contact.
This also allows us to offer practical help and support to those who want it.”
Medomsley Detention Centre made headlines in 2003 when two men who once worked there were prosecuted.
Predatory prison guard Neville Husband, who was a serial abuser of young boys and who has since died, was convicted for sex attacks on nine youngsters while working at the centre.
Before he was prosecuted, Husband, from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, became a minister of Brighton Road and Cromer Avenue URC churches in Gateshead after 27 years in the prison service.
Husband was jailed for 12 years and store man Leslie Johnson for six. Johnson is also now dead.
If you were a victim of abuse at the centre or if you have any information relating to Medomsley Detention Centre, police can be contacted on 101.
Source
