To ask the Secretary of State
for Justice, on what date officials from her Department plan to contact
or meet the steering group of solicitors dealing with cases arising
from Operation Seabrook.
Sam Gyimah
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
The Government Legal Department (GLD) is acting for the Ministry of Justice
in relation to these cases. GLD is planning to meet the steering group
committee next month, although the precise date for this meeting has yet
to be finalised.
‘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 '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 current state of the investigation; January 2017
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chapman is now
in place as the senior investigating officer (SIO) following the
retirement last year of Det Supt Paul Goundry.
He said; "I am pleased to report that the investigation remains
focused with regular consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS). This contact and the commitment of all the officers and staff
involved ensures the investigation continues to keep victims/survivors
at the centre of this complex enquiry, with every effort being made to
bring the perpetrators of abuse to justice.
"We are now in a
position where charging advice will be requested in the near future and
this will be a significant milestone for the investigation. Resourcing
for the enquiry has not diminished and is constantly reviewed."
Detective
Sergeant Claire Errington remains as the supervisor for the dedicated
Seabrook team. Within this team we have victim co-ordinators who are at
hand to help and assist with any issues or concerns people may have.
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.
Independent Psychotherapist Zoe Lodrick
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.
Operation Seabrook is the Durham Police investigation into abuse allegations at the facility.
It was triggered after former prison officer Neville Husband was jailed for eight years in 2003 for abusing five youths.
It's been running for two-and-a-half years now and is the biggest of its kind. Officers have spoken to around 20 suspects.
Ron Hogg, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Photo:
An investigation into allegations of abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham is almost complete.
1,361 alleged victims have contacted police to report abuse they suffered at the centre from the 1960s to the1980s.
The victims were all in their teens when they were sent to Medomsley, often for minor offences, until the centre closed in 1988.
Thirty-one potential abusers have been identified and the Crown
Prosecution Service is looking into which cases are strong enough to
prosecute in court.
The investigation into alleged abuse called 'Operation Seabrook' was
launched by Durham Police in August 2013. It is now the biggest
investigation of its kind in the country.
It is even bigger than Operation Yewtree, the investigation into
sexual abuse allegations, predominantly against television personality
Jimmy Savile.
Previous police investigations into the abuse at Medomsley in 2003
and 2005 led to the conviction and jailing of Neville Husband and Leslie
Johnson, former members of staff at the centre who have since died.
Absolutely, yes, we've come to the end almost, we may be picking up
the odd one or two as we go forward but the substantial number of
victims have now reported in and we're satisfied with that and we're
progressing the case on that basis.'
'Many have been interviewed and we have a file in with the CPS to decide who out of anyone may or may not be prosecuted."
Det Supt Paul Goundry has assured victims that the three year investigation will not be impacted by his retirement
16:47, 8 NOV 2016 The officer leading Operation Seabrook, Det Supt Paul Goundry
The senior officer leading the investigation into sex abuse at the infamous Medomsley detention centre in County Durham has stepped down.
Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry has headed up Operation Seabrook since it was established in August 2013. He has now retired to take up another role outside of the police force.
In a recent letter sent to victims he moved to assure them that the three year investigation will not be impacted by his retirement.
He said: “I have been invited to take on a newly created role outside of the police service, working as the project lead on an initiative which will serve the needs of sexual assault victims of all ages across County Durham and Darlington.
“In this position I will be working with all the relevant statutory agencies, looking at how we support victims of sexual abuse and whether the services which currently exist can be improved and co-ordinated more effectively.
“In order to take up this position, I have had to retire as a police officer which in turn means I had to give up my position as the senior investigating officer for Operation Seabrook.
“Please let me assure you, this will make no practical difference whatsoever to our ongoing investigation.” The investigation into assaults on inmates at Medomsley Detention Centre is now the biggest child abuse inquiry in the UK. Operation Seabrook detectives in their office at Chester-Le-Street Police station.
Det Chief Insp Steve Chapman is set to take over the leadership role with Det Chief Insp Mick Callan remaining in post as deputy senior investigating officer.
In his letter Det Supt Goundry went on to say: “As you know, Mick has been involved in Seabrook from the outset therefore the investigation could not be in safer hands.”
The operation is one of the largest abuse investigations in UK criminal history and is attempting to establish what happened at Medomsley detention centre near Consett from the 1960s to 1988 when it closed.
More than 1,240 former inmates at Medomsley detention centre have now come forward to report being physically or sexually abused while being held at the facility.
The scale and complexity of the investigation meant the force bought in a team of experienced retired detectives.
The former detainees were all in their teens when they were sent to Medomsley for what were often relatively minor offences.
They typically spent six to eight weeks at the Home Office-run centre before being released.
‘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 '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 current state of the investigation; October 2016
There has been a recent change at the head
of the Seabrook team, with the retirement of Det Supt Paul Goundry, who
was the senior investigating officer (SIO).
In a recent letter sent to victims he said; "I have been invited to
take on a newly created role outside of the police service, working as
the project lead on an initiative which will serve the needs of sexual
assault victims of all ages across County Durham and Darlington.
"In this position I will be working with all the relevant
statutory agencies, looking at how we support victims of sexual abuse
and whether the services which currently exist can be improved and
co-ordinated more effectively.
"In order to take up this position, I have had to retire as a
police officer which in turn means I had to give up my position as the
SIO for Operation Seabrook.
"Please let me assure you, this will make no practical difference whatsoever to our ongoing investigation.
"Detective
Chief Inspector Steve Chapman (pictured left), a very experienced SIO
has been appointed to succeed me with Det Chief Insp Mick Callan
remaining in post as deputy SIO.
"As you know, Mick has been involved in Seabrook from the outset therefore the investigation could not be in safer hands."
Detective Constable Tracey Etchells remains the victim co-ordinator
and Detective Sergeant Claire Errington continues to lead the dedicated
team working full-time on Seabrook. In fact the Seabrook team has just
increased its numbers with the appointment of Andy McConnell, a recently
retired police inspector as the identification officer.
His role within Operation Seabrook will be to carry out the
identification procedures which are governed by a set of rules to make
the system as fair as possible.
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.
Independent Psychotherapist Zoe Lodrick
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.
Durham Constabulary
has asked for an extra £1.5m on top of its normal budget to handle the
massive investigation into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.
The
force applied to the Home Office in 2015/16 for a special grant to help
handle the costs of Operation Seabrook which is now the biggest child
abuse inquiry in the UK.
A staggering 1,350 men have reported being physically or sexually assaulted at the County Durham detention centre during the 1970s and 1980s.
The
Home Office and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) have
yet to come to a decision on whether or not to agree with the amount
suggested by Durham Constabulary in their bid.
Similar
child sexual abuse investigation like Operation Hydrant, in Norfolk, and
Operation Pallial, in North Wales, have been awarded special grant and
have been granted at least half of the amount they requested.
Last
year South Yorkshire Police requested £17m in extra funding for
Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency-led investigation into
child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and were granted £1.6m was agreed
for 2015/16 and up to £5.9m for 2016/17.
The news comes
as Ben Emmerson QC, the most senior lawyer working on an independent
inquiry into historic child sexual abuse in England and Wales resigned.
Dave Higgens/PA Wire
Professor Alexis Jay
In his resignation letter, Mr Emmerson
said he was no longer the “right person” for the role, but denied he had
stepped down due to a difference of opinion with chair Professor Alexis
Jay.
The inquiry was set up in 2014 to examine whether
public bodies including the police have failed in their duty to protect
children from sexual abuse. It will also examine claims of abuse
involving “well-known people”.
Prof Jay is the fourth person appointed to lead the investigation.
She
was appointed after its third chairwoman, New Zealand judge Justice
Lowell Goddard, resigned in August this year, citing the “magnitude” of
the inquiry and the “legacy of failure” from its beginnings.
An attempt to start the inquiry in 2014 was abandoned after two proposed chairwomen resigned.
The
scale and complexity of the investigation meant the force bought in a
team of experienced retired detectives to work on the case.
So far 31 suspects have been identified and interviewed and the CPS is currently reviewing prosecution files.
Last year detectives trawled the archives of the Chronicle to look for clues in any articles written about the detention centre.
Det Supt Paul Goundry
Det Supt Paul Goundry, who has led the two-year
investigation, told ChronicleLive at the time how the victims’ accounts
of horrific abuse have left even the most hardened long-serving
detectives sickened.
He said: “This investigation is
probably one of the most challenging the country has faced, not just due
to the number of victims but also because Medomsley closed in 1986,
which means we are talking about events that occurred between 30 and 50
years ago.
“The investigation team is made up of very
experienced detectives who have built up close bonds with many of the
victims. Some hardened detectives have been quite traumatised by the
accounts of the victims.”
Overall, across England and
Wales, police forces applied for £64m in special grants from the Home
Office in the last two years - just over half (£32.7m) of the amounts
requested by forces were awarded.
Source
