Durham Police Headquarters
Durham Police has moved to reassure victims that inquiries into
historic abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre will not be impacted by the
Goddard inquiry upheaval.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) fell into disarray after Dame Lowell Goddard resigned last week following criticism of her salary package and knowledge of British law.
Dame Goddard was the third chairman to do so since the IICSA was announced in July 2014 and Professor Alexis Jay OBE, a former social worker who led an inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, has taken over as chair.
Det Supt Paul Goundry, senior investigating officer for Operation Seabrook which is investigating the alleged physical and sexual abuse against detainees at Medomsley Detention Centre near Consett in the 1970s and 1980s, said the changes to the IICSA will not impact the police investigation.
Det Supt Goundry said: “Can I take this opportunity to reassure you that nothing has changed for those of us working on Seabrook and there will be no change.
“The IICSA is completely separate from any criminal investigations being carried out by the police and our work will not be affected by Justice Goddard’s resignation.
“Ourselves and the CPS remain completely committed to ensuring a thorough and professional investigation and this will not be affected by any changes to the IICSA.
“Medomsley Detention Centre will continue to be one of the institutions looked at in detail by the independent inquiry.”
It was announced last November that Medomsley would be a case study within the ‘children in custodial institutions’ investigations focusing on institutional failures.
Victims have raised concerns that many victims’ cases will be ignored as they were over the age of 18 at the time of the abuse at the detention centre which held young people up to the age of 21.
Operation Seabrook is one of the biggest child abuse probes in the UK and detectives have heard from more than 1,350 former inmates who say they were abused at the centre.
The CPS are considering prosecution files on the 31 surviving main suspects identified in the case.
Earlier this week the Chronicle revealed that the IICSA excluded the former Stanhope Castle School in County Durham as a case study, despite solicitors telling the inquiry that victims suffered “pervasive and sadistic” abuse at the approved school. (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/cost-excluding-stanhope-castle-child-11715535)
Source
‘Operation Seabrook’ is the criminal investigation into allegations
of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by staff against detainees at
Medomsley Detention Centre near Consett, County Durham.
It was launched in August 2013 and is investigating incidents which happened over many years, principally the 1970's and 1980's.
The three main aims of the investigation are:
* to ensure support is provided for victims so they are in a better place after contacting the police
* to gain the fullest understanding of how Medomsley operated during those years
* to secure evidence so that any potential offenders are brought to justice.
The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is Det Supt Paul Goundry (pictured below) and Det Con Tracey Etchells is the victim co-ordinator.
Anyone needing to make contact with them in writing can email operation.seabrook@durham.pnn.police.uk
The 'Seabrook' team has now heard from more than 1,350 former inmates at Medomsley who have reported they were abused while detained at the centre.
All of the surviving main suspects - 31 in total - have been identified, interviewed and prosecution files submitted to the CPS for advice. This advice will then identify those individuals who are likely to be charged and also which victims or witnesses are likely to give evidence.
Update on the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA):
As many of you will have seen or heard from recent media reports, the chairman of the IICSA, Dame Lowell Goddard resigned from her post at the beginning of August.
Some of you have contacted us to ask if this news has implications for Operation Seabrook, which is to be one of the cases considered by the IICSA.
Det Supt Paul Goundry said; “Can I take this opportunity to reassure you that nothing has changed for those of us working on Seabrook and there will be no change.
“The IICSA is completely separate from any criminal investigations being carried out by the police and our work will not be affected by Justice Goddard’s resignation.
“Ourselves and the CPS remain completely committed to ensuring a thorough and professional investigation and this will not be affected by any changes to the IICSA.
“Medomsley Detention Centre will continue to be one of the institutions looked at in detail by the independent inquiry and the Government has begun the process of identifying a successor to Justice Goddard.”
It was announced last November that Medomsley would be a case study within the ‘Children in Custodial Institutions’ investigations. It is important to remember that the inquiry will focus on institutional failures, rather than individual criminal guilt.
Important - If you are a victim and your contact details have changed, for example, you have moved house or have a new phone number then please email the Seabrook team or call them via 101 so they can update their records.
Durham Constabulary continues to work with various organisations to provide the best possible support for victims. Access to support is available without the need to contact the police for those who feel unable to do so.
The following organisations can be contacted independently of the police for support .
NSPCC FREEPHONE HELPLINE (24 hrs):
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 0808 800 5000
The helpline is available for anyone who has concerns about a child or anyone including adults who wish to discuss their own experience of abuse as a child or young person.
Contact can also be made via e mail : help@nspcc.org.uk or by text 88858
Contact can be made anonymously if the caller so wishes.
NAPAC
National Association for People Abused in ChildhoodFreephone from all landlines and mobile networks 0808 801 0331.
Calls do not show on your bill; lines are open 10am to 9pm Monday - Thursday, and 10am to 6pm on Friday. NAPAC is unable to take messages or ring back.
The Meadows:
The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Darlington and Co Durham) 0191 301 8554
The Meadows will accept calls between the hours of 9am-3.30 pm Monday to Friday and can arrange one-to-one counselling sessions and can make referrals to similar centres throughout the UK.
Counselling does not involve discussing what has happened in relation to the assault, it aims to help you work through your feelings to aid the healing process.
Staff at the Meadows will not contact the police without your consent unless there are current concerns in respect of a child or vulnerable adult.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) fell into disarray after Dame Lowell Goddard resigned last week following criticism of her salary package and knowledge of British law.
Dame Goddard was the third chairman to do so since the IICSA was announced in July 2014 and Professor Alexis Jay OBE, a former social worker who led an inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, has taken over as chair.
Det Supt Paul Goundry, senior investigating officer for Operation Seabrook which is investigating the alleged physical and sexual abuse against detainees at Medomsley Detention Centre near Consett in the 1970s and 1980s, said the changes to the IICSA will not impact the police investigation.
Det Supt Goundry said: “Can I take this opportunity to reassure you that nothing has changed for those of us working on Seabrook and there will be no change.
“The IICSA is completely separate from any criminal investigations being carried out by the police and our work will not be affected by Justice Goddard’s resignation.
“Ourselves and the CPS remain completely committed to ensuring a thorough and professional investigation and this will not be affected by any changes to the IICSA.
“Medomsley Detention Centre will continue to be one of the institutions looked at in detail by the independent inquiry.”
It was announced last November that Medomsley would be a case study within the ‘children in custodial institutions’ investigations focusing on institutional failures.
Victims have raised concerns that many victims’ cases will be ignored as they were over the age of 18 at the time of the abuse at the detention centre which held young people up to the age of 21.
Operation Seabrook is one of the biggest child abuse probes in the UK and detectives have heard from more than 1,350 former inmates who say they were abused at the centre.
The CPS are considering prosecution files on the 31 surviving main suspects identified in the case.
Earlier this week the Chronicle revealed that the IICSA excluded the former Stanhope Castle School in County Durham as a case study, despite solicitors telling the inquiry that victims suffered “pervasive and sadistic” abuse at the approved school. (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/cost-excluding-stanhope-castle-child-11715535)
Source
Operation Seabrook - Medomsley Detention Centre
05/08/2016
‘Operation Seabrook’ is the criminal investigation into allegations
of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by staff against detainees at
Medomsley Detention Centre near Consett, County Durham. It was launched in August 2013 and is investigating incidents which happened over many years, principally the 1970's and 1980's.
The three main aims of the investigation are:
* to ensure support is provided for victims so they are in a better place after contacting the police
* to gain the fullest understanding of how Medomsley operated during those years
* to secure evidence so that any potential offenders are brought to justice.
The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is Det Supt Paul Goundry (pictured below) and Det Con Tracey Etchells is the victim co-ordinator.
Anyone needing to make contact with them in writing can email operation.seabrook@durham.pnn.police.uk
The 'Seabrook' team has now heard from more than 1,350 former inmates at Medomsley who have reported they were abused while detained at the centre.
All of the surviving main suspects - 31 in total - have been identified, interviewed and prosecution files submitted to the CPS for advice. This advice will then identify those individuals who are likely to be charged and also which victims or witnesses are likely to give evidence.
Update on the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA):
As many of you will have seen or heard from recent media reports, the chairman of the IICSA, Dame Lowell Goddard resigned from her post at the beginning of August.
Some of you have contacted us to ask if this news has implications for Operation Seabrook, which is to be one of the cases considered by the IICSA.
Det Supt Paul Goundry said; “Can I take this opportunity to reassure you that nothing has changed for those of us working on Seabrook and there will be no change.
“The IICSA is completely separate from any criminal investigations being carried out by the police and our work will not be affected by Justice Goddard’s resignation.
“Ourselves and the CPS remain completely committed to ensuring a thorough and professional investigation and this will not be affected by any changes to the IICSA.
“Medomsley Detention Centre will continue to be one of the institutions looked at in detail by the independent inquiry and the Government has begun the process of identifying a successor to Justice Goddard.”
It was announced last November that Medomsley would be a case study within the ‘Children in Custodial Institutions’ investigations. It is important to remember that the inquiry will focus on institutional failures, rather than individual criminal guilt.
Important - If you are a victim and your contact details have changed, for example, you have moved house or have a new phone number then please email the Seabrook team or call them via 101 so they can update their records.
Durham Constabulary continues to work with various organisations to provide the best possible support for victims. Access to support is available without the need to contact the police for those who feel unable to do so.
|
The following organisations can be contacted independently of the police for support .
NSPCC FREEPHONE HELPLINE (24 hrs):
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 0808 800 5000
The helpline is available for anyone who has concerns about a child or anyone including adults who wish to discuss their own experience of abuse as a child or young person.
Contact can also be made via e mail : help@nspcc.org.uk or by text 88858
Contact can be made anonymously if the caller so wishes.
NAPAC
National Association for People Abused in ChildhoodFreephone from all landlines and mobile networks 0808 801 0331.
Calls do not show on your bill; lines are open 10am to 9pm Monday - Thursday, and 10am to 6pm on Friday. NAPAC is unable to take messages or ring back.
The Meadows:
The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Darlington and Co Durham) 0191 301 8554
The Meadows will accept calls between the hours of 9am-3.30 pm Monday to Friday and can arrange one-to-one counselling sessions and can make referrals to similar centres throughout the UK.
Counselling does not involve discussing what has happened in relation to the assault, it aims to help you work through your feelings to aid the healing process.
Staff at the Meadows will not contact the police without your consent unless there are current concerns in respect of a child or vulnerable adult.
