Medomsley Detention Centre

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 24 July 2024.

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Photo of Richard Holden Richard Holden Conservative, Basildon and Billericay

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions she has had with the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on its planned timetable for the inquiry into abuse at the former Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham.

Photo of Alex Davies-Jones Alex Davies-Jones The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

The abuse that took place at Medomsley Detention Centre was appalling. The previous government, after years of campaigning by victims and survivors, commissioned the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) in October 2023 to undertake a thorough review of the abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. The investigation commenced in November 2023 and is looking into what the authorities knew about the abuse over this period, if there were opportunities for them to take action or intervene, and what action they took.

At the outset, the PPO expected the review to take 18 months and therefore would conclude in May 2025 (although the Terms of Reference, which are available on the PPO website, do include the options for an extension if required, subject to approval).

It is important that the review has enough time to fully investigate what happened, to get the whole truth for victims and survivors. In the coming weeks, my officials and I will discuss the review’s progress with the PPO and his team to ensure that it can be completed as thoroughly but as quickly as possible.

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