MP calls for inquiry into all historic abuse in custody as Medomsley investigation continues

18 Feb 2014 10:40

MP for North West Durham Pat Glass believes politicians' language can create culture in which abuse thrives

Pat Glass, MP for North West Durham

Historic abuse at youth detention centres should be investigated as part of an independent inquiry, a North East MP has said.

Pat Glass, who represents North West Durham, says the language politicians use to describe crime and punishment can be dangerous. She believes terms such as “short, sharp shock” create a culture in which abuse can thrive.

It comes after a probe was re-opened into the former Medomsley Detention Centre, which was near Consett in County Durham, last year where it is believed hundreds of boys were abused between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Police are dealing with more than 400 confirmed victims.

The Labour politician has raised the inquiry issue with Keith Vaz, who is chairman of the Home Affairs Committee.

“Some of the language politicians use is abhorrent,” said the Labour MP. “We hear language like ‘short, sharp shock’ and that has created a culture in which bad things can happen. I suspect this will go much wider than Medomsley and during this investigation we need to look at all historic abuse in custody.”

While many victims are believed to have suffered physical abuse, sexual predator Neville Husband is known to have targeted hundreds of young boys.

The prison guard was a serial abuser of young boys and was convicted for sex attacks on nine youngsters in 2003. He was jailed for 12 years and his accomplice Lesley Johnson, who was a storeman at the centre, for six years. Both men have since died.

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged he will provide Durham Police with any additional resources it needs. The investigation is among the largest the force has ever dealt with and the MP wants to ensure investigators unearth all wrongdoing.

Ms Glass added: “We need to make sure that the police have enough resources and that this investigation is thorough. When this has concluded and all matters have been before court then we need to take a longitudinal look at historic abuse in custody.”

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MP Pat Glass seeks inquiry into historic abuse at youth detention centres following Medomsley investigation

By Katie Davies

17 Feb 2014 08:53

A parliamentary inquiry into historic abuse at youth detention centres is needed, according to an MP

MP Pat Glass

An MP is seeking a parliamentary inquiry into historic abuse at youth detention centres – and has urged politicians to take care with the language they use.

Speaking about a large-scale police investigation into the former Medomsley Detention Centre in her constituency, North West Durham Labour MP Pat Glass said a call by politicians for young offenders to be given a “short, sharp shock” had created a culture in which abuse could flourish.

More than 400 confirmed victims have now contacted Durham Constabulary alleging sexual and physical abuse at the Home Office-run centre, near Consett, between the late 1960s and early 1980s.

Prison officer Neville Husband was jailed in 2003 for systematically raping youngsters. His friend Leslie Johnson, a storeman at Medomsley, was jailed for similar offences. They have both since died.

Mrs Glass said: “There have been couple of investigations and people have been found guilty, but those inquiries were very limited.

“What we now know from people coming forward is that there was a systematic reign of terror at Medomsley that has damaged lives – it was not just a clip around the lug.

“If you were unlucky enough to go anywhere near the kitchens (run by Husband) then it was even worse.”

She added: “I have approached the chairman of the Home Affairs select committee Keith Vaz and have asked if the committee would consider looking at the whole issue of historic abuse in places like Medomsley.

“This cannot have been happening in isolation at Medomsley. I am concerned about the culture that existed around all of this.”

Mrs Glass stressed the ongoing police inquiry remained the priority. She said: “Any public scrutiny, whether it be by a parliamentary sub-committee or a public investigation, that should be for later.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Glass said politicians “ought to be careful about the language they use”.

She said: “When you start using language like short, sharp shock - it created a culture.

“Anyone looking at that kind of language could not be in any doubt about what the politicians were saying.

“It creates a culture in which a group of people is seen as less than the rest. When that happens things start to go wrong.

“I draw the analogy with the kind of language that is being used today around things like welfare and people in receipt of benefits.

“We almost are creating a situation where groups of people are seen as less than the general population and we know from history that is dangerous.

“Politicians will (often) come out and say we have to learn lessons from this, yet the people who never learn lessons are the politicians.”

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Pat Glass MP seeks inquiry into historic abuse at youth detention centres following Medomsley investigation

6:40am Monday 17th February 2014 in Consett News Exclusive By Gavin Engelbrecht

 

North West Durham MP Pat Glass

AN MP is seeking a parliamentary inquiry into historic abuse at youth detention centres – and has urged politicians to take care with the language they use.

Speaking to Northern Echo about a large-scale police investigation into the former Medomsley Detention Centre in her constituency, North West Durham Labour MP Pat Glass said a call by politicians for young offenders to be given a “short, sharp shock” had created a culture in which abuse could flourish.

More than 400 confirmed victims have now contacted Durham Constabulary alleging sexual and physical abuse at the Home Office-run centre, near Consett, between the late 1960s and early 1980s.

Prison officer Neville Husband was jailed in 2003 for systematically raping youngsters. His friend Leslie Johnson, a storeman at Medomsley, was jailed for similar offences. They have both since died.
Mrs Glass said: “There have been couple of investigations and people have been found guilty, but those inquiries were very limited.

“What we now know from people coming forward is that there was a systematic reign of terror at Medomsley that has damaged lives – it was not just a clip around the lug.

“If you were unlucky enough to go anywhere near the kitchens (run by Husband) then it was even worse.”

She added: “I have approached the chairman of the Home Affairs select committee Keith Vaz and have asked if the committee would consider looking at the whole issue of historic abuse in places like Medomsley.

“This cannot have been happening in isolation at Medomsley. I am concerned about the culture that existed around all of this.”

Mrs Glass stressed the ongoing police inquiry remained the priority. She said: “Any public scrutiny, whether it be by a parliamentary sub-committee or a public investigation, that should be for later.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Glass said politicians “ought to be careful about the language they use”.

She said: “When you start using language like short, sharp shock - it created a culture.

“Anyone looking at that kind of language could not be in any doubt about what the politicians were saying.

“It creates a culture in which a group of people is seen as less than the rest. When that happens things start to go wrong.

“I draw the analogy with the kind of language that is being used today around things like welfare and people in receipt of benefits.

“We almost are creating a situation where groups of people are seen as less than the general population and we know from history that is dangerous.

“Politicians will (often) come out and say we have to learn lessons from this, yet the people who never learn lessons are the politicians.”

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Sexual trauma expert lends support to Medomsley Detention Centre abuse inquiry

6:20am Thursday 13th February 2014 in News Exclusive By Gavin Engelbrecht

 

Sexual trauma expert Zoe Lodrick

A LEADING sexual trauma expert has been drafted in to provide extra support to a team of detectives investigating abuse at a former North-East detention centre.

Psychotherapist Zoe Lodrick visited the Durham Constabulary Police headquarters at Aykley Heads yesterday morning (Wednesday, February 12) to help Operation Seabrook – one of the largest investigations of its kind centred on Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett.

Ms Lodrick produced a video for victims and spoke to officers on how best to deal with the effects of listening to the horrific stories of abuse victims suffered.

Her visit came as police revealed that more than 400 confirmed victims had come forward since a new investigation was launched last August, into claims of sexual and physical abuse at the Home Office-run centre between the late 1960s and mid 1980s.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Wayne Barrigan said: “Zoe Lodrick has been speaking to officers on how to deal with hearing repetitive stories of trauma.

“It can have a knock-on effect on officers without them even realising it.

“So it was to make us aware and to be able to cope with the information we are coming across, for the long-term.”

He added: “What what we also identified through our inquiries is that a lot of victims are feeling shame and guilt about why they allowed the abuse to happen to them.

“Zoe has produced a video help them understand that what they did was a normal human reaction in the circumstances.

“We plan to put a webcast on our website and on YouTube, where victims can access that in their own time.”

Ms Lodrick said: “The webcast will explain why survivors or victims of sexual abuse - particularly the kind of abuse that happened at Medomsley - often feel very guilty and ashamed and feel responsible.

“It’s to help them understand why.

“Logically it would make sense to fight, run, scream or tell someone, and (it’s to say) why victims of sexual abuse hardly ever do that.

“It’s just to help people forgive themselves, because so many survivors of child abuse and torture never forgive themselves.”

She added: “Victims rarely react the way they might expect. Shock, horror and normal human survival reactions will frequently result in a passive defensive reaction.”

A previous police investigation led to the conviction of prison officer Neville Husband, who was jailed for ten years for sexually abusing several teenagers at the Medomsley. He died of natural causes after being released from prison.

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Sexual & physical abuse of detention centre inmates

Boys at a detention centre asked other inmates to break their legs in order to be moved elsewhere and escape being abused by staff, a former detainee has claimed. 

Police reopened a 10-year-old investigation into abuse at a former County Durham detention centre last year when a former inmate said he was also abused. Since then the force said it has been contacted by more than 100 alleged victims.

Men who alleged that as boys they were the victims of sexual and physical abuse at the County Durham detention centre in the 1970s and 1980s have spoken of their memories.
"Some of the boys would lay at the bottom of the stairs and ask another boy to jump off the stairs on to their legs so they could break a leg and be removed from Medomsley Detention Centre in order to not be subjected to any more beatings," an alleged victim, who did not wish to be named, said.

 

Ray Poar said he was made to "bunny hop to the showers naked"

Following the original investigation, Neville Husband, who worked at the detention centre as a prison officer, was jailed for 12 years in 2003, and Leslie Johnson, a store man, was sentenced to six years in 2005.
Both men have since died.

Since the investigation was reopened in August, Durham Police has received statements from 143 alleged victims of abuse.

Many of those sent to Medomsley were first-time offenders often detained for relatively minor offences.
Ray Poar was 17 when he was sent there for stealing biscuits from a factory and has waived his right to anonymity.

He said: "It's always in my head, the shame, it's ruined my life, it's completely ruined it."
'Kicking us about' On one occasion Mr Poar remembered being woken up after wetting his bed and being forced to bunny hop naked to the showers.

He said: "When I couldn't make it to the showers I was kicked.

 
Neville Husband was jailed for 12 years in 2003 and later died

"We knew we couldn't turn around to them and complain to them about what had happened with Husband because they were part of it, they were the ones that were kicking us about every day.

"The odd punch in the arm, the ribs, the back of the knees, every day they were doing it. You had nobody to talk to."

In 2003, Newcastle Crown Court heard Husband used his position of authority at the centre to systematically abuse his victims from 1974 to 1984. He was jailed after being found guilty of 10 counts of indecent assault and one of a serious sexual offence after police said almost two dozen victims came forward.

One man who wished to remain anonymous said some of the worst violence he suffered was from fellow inmates but he alleges it was orchestrated by prison staff.

He said: "They were telling you that you were worthless, that's why you were in there, you were no good, nobody wanted you.

"I was in the dorm, I felt being kicked and punched and slapped. When I've tried to look up, because I was in bed, I saw a prison officer at the door smiling.

'I apologise' "Then I realised he's put them up to this and I just curled up into a ball and took what they threw at us. I thought tonight it's my turn, it will be somebody else's tomorrow."

About 70 Durham Police detectives are working on the inquiry.

Det Supt Paul Goundry described the reports as "horrific" and those who were sent there were faced with "what was effectively a brutal regime".

"If you ended up in the kitchens you would almost certainly be raped and sexually assaulted," he said.

 

Det Supt Paul Goundry described the reports as "horrific"

 

Mr Goundry said the three key strands of the inquiry were finding out what happened at Medomsley over 20 years, to hold people to account if they were still alive and support any victims.

Tim Newell, who was the governor at Medomsley between 1978-1981, wrote reports about Husband including that he provided "an outstanding contribution to the running of the establishment".

However, in January, Mr Newell said in a statement he wrote the report about Husband because "he was an outstanding catering officer" and did not have a strong relationship with Husband.

Mr Newell said: "If I had any suspicions about sexual abuse or abuse of any kind I would have taken action. If staff knew about the abuse taking place I am very concerned they let the abuse continue."

Sir Martin Narey was director general of the prison service when Husband's crimes came to light.

He said: "Without reservation I apologise to people at Medomsley who were harmed by Neville Husband. We should have stopped him much earlier."

Durham Police asked anybody with information to come forward.

For advice and support call BBC Action Line on 08000 566 065. Lines are open 24 hours a day and all calls are confidential. Calls are free from most landlines. Some networks and mobile operators will charge for these calls. 

MP welcomes Prime Minister's pledge to support police in Medomsley abuse inquiry

7:01pm Friday 7th February 2014 in News By Gavin Engelbrecht

 

MP welcomes Prime Minister's pledge to support police in Medomsley abuse inquiry

AN MP has welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge to support Durham Police as they deal with inquiries into allegations of sexual and physical abuse at a former North-East detention centre.

North West Durham MP Pat Glass spoke after David Cameron gave his assurance that extra resources will be available to the force should a major incident happen while it carries out its investigation into Medomsley Detention Centre, in her constituency.

Her intervention came as police revealed they have now been contacted by 375 people since a new investigation was launched last August into claims of abuse at the Home Office-run centre, near Consett, between the late 1960s and mid 1980s.

Mrs Glass, who met last week with Durham Police and Crime Commissoner Ron Hogg and senior investigating officer Chief Superintendent Paul Goundry said: “I was told they have the resources they need.

“They are determined to see this inquiry through and leave no stone unturned. But Durham is a small force and it just needs some serious incident. . .

“Although it wouldn’t stop the investigation, it would have an impact on the speed at which victims can be seen.

“We want to ensure that should it become necessary, Durham Police have the resources to keep their specialist team in place until the conclusion of the inquiry.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said: “I think some of our smaller police forces are hugely capable, but when they are doing very complex and large investigations like this on occasion they do need help and support - so we should make sure that is available.”

Mrs Glass said today (Friday, February 7): “The Prime Minister said twice that he was committed to that and once I got it in writing on Hansard that he is committed – that is all I wanted.”

An earlier investigation led to a former catering officer at the centre, Neville Husband being jailed in 2003 for abusing a number of young men over a period of time. He died in 2010, following his release from prison.

The centre closed in 1988 and later reopened as the privately-run Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in 1999.

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Police say 200 more people may have been victims of detention centre abuse

Prison officer Neville Husband, who died in 2010, is feared to have abused hundreds of detainees at Medomsley, Co Durham

• Eric Allison and Simon Hattenstone
• theguardian.com,  
• Friday 7 February 2014 19.55 GMT
• Photograph: Rex 

David Cameron has promised help if necessary for Durham police, who have now been contacted by a total of 375 potential victims.

 

Durham police have confirmed that more than 200 potential new victims have come forward to detectives investigating sexual and physical abuse at a now defunct detention centre.

The development follows an investigation by the Guardian that revealed a prison officer at the centre, Neville Husband, may have abused hundreds of detainees over a 17-year period.

Husband was jailed for 10 years in 2003 for committing sex attacks on youngsters at Medomsley detention centre, near Consett, County Durham, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Husband, who died in 2010, had been in sole charge of the kitchens at Medomsley. The Guardian investigation in 2012 revealed he had raped boys on a daily basis, while other staff allegedly turned a blind eye.

Durham police said there had now been 232 new calls from potential victims, bringing the total to 375. A spokesman said: "All those who have rung will be seen by an officer over the coming weeks and steered towards the appropriate support and counselling."

Earlier this week, the prime minister assured the North West Durham MP, Pat Glass, that the Home Office would support local police if necessary while detectives were carrying out the investigations into what happened at the former detention centre.

Glass said: "The prime minister will be aware of the investigation into the systematic beating, abuse and rape of young men and boys at the former Medomsley detention centre in my constituency.

"The victim toll has now topped 300 and this is the biggest investigation ever undertaken by Durham Constabulary – a relatively small police force.

"Will the prime minister commit that if it proves necessary, his home secretary will meet with the police and crime commissioner, the chief constable and myself to ensure that the highly successful team has the resources it needs to see this investigation to its conclusion? The victims deserve no less."

Cameron replied: "I am very happy to give the honourable lady that assurance, because I don't support the police merger ideas of the past.

"I think some of our smaller police forces are hugely capable, but when they are doing very complex and large investigations like this on occasion they do need help and support – so we should make sure that is available."

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