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Thousands of young men were sentenced Medomsley Detention CenterThe nightmare began upon their arrival at the front door.
According to a scathing report of historical abuse in Notorious, several men were punched when an officer asked their name simply because they failed to address him as “Sir” in their response. Durham Facility,
Sadly, this was only the beginning, as the youth were forced to endure all this terrible rule Beatings, humiliation, chores and punitive physical exercises.
Hundreds of people were raped and tortured by serial sexual predators, including “the worst sex offender in history”. neville husbandWho used to target two or three victims a day in the centre’s kitchen.
The cruel treatment led some to commit suicide or to eat glass out of desperation to be taken to hospital.
The first-hand accounts, set out in a 202-page report by Prison and Probation Ombudsman Adrian Ussher published on Wednesday, laid bare the reality of life inside Medomsley, which housed low-level offenders aged 17 to 21 from 1961 to 1987.
Men and boys were sent to detention centers for crimes including shoplifting, non-payment of fines and robbery as part of a Margaret Thatcher-era policy of hitting criminals with “short, sharp shocks”. One was sent to steal biscuits and the other to take a coat from the back of a car.
Eyewitnesses said that upon their arrival, internees were searched and forced to wash in metal baths – filled with two inches of freezing cold or extremely hot water.
During their stay, the men and boys were unlocked at 6.30 in the morning and immediately asked to run around the compound before washing and shaving. They had to complete daily work details as well as a rigorous regimen of physical education instruction.
It was so difficult, involving running a two-mile course known as ‘The Fence’, that many took desperate measures such as breaking bones, swallowing glass or drinking brasso in the hope of being sent to hospital.
One survivor said: “I remember being in the hospital wing, there was a big boy on the bed in front of me. I think he was there because he drank a bottle of Brasso.
“I saw him getting kicked all over his body because he was overweight, and he couldn’t get the fitness there.”
Another recalled: “I even saw boys jumping off the cot to break someone’s leg. I heard it break. When someone managed to break a bone, they were thrown out and never seen again.”
A third said: “I saw prisoners eat glass and nails, break razors and swallow blades, anything to try and get away with it [Medomsley] And in the hospital.”
However, even those who were unwell were not spared the abuse, with several witnesses stating that if they were ill, they might have painkillers stuck to their forehead and be told to run around until the pill dissolved.
Beatings and physical abuse can occur at any time, with trainees often being targeted for being gay or weak, or subjected to racist abuse.
One survivor said he was standing in line when an officer approached him from behind and punched him hard in the kidney.
“I fell to the floor because of the pain. As I stood back up, I put my hands on the floor to lift myself up. My hands were in a kind of claw shape. [The officer] Deliberately stamped my hand, causing my little finger and ring finger to bend under my hand.
“I felt my fingers shrivel and immediately the pain started rising up my arm. I told [the officer] He just broke my fingers. He asked me to keep quiet.”
Bunny hops – which required trainees to jump like a rabbit with their hands behind their heads – were a form of exercise that was regularly used as a form of punishment.
One survivor said: “An officer punched me in the face… He told me to get naked and then made me do ‘bunny hops’ naked in the corridor in front of the other prisoners.
“There was an officer up and down the corridor and when you got to the end they would kick or chase you up the corridor and if you stopped they would kick you.
“I was asked to walk up and down the corridor until I couldn’t do it anymore. This was done to humiliate me, they also pointed at my genitals and made fun of me to add insult to injury.”
The government apologized to survivors and announced a new youth detention protection panel, which will review complaint procedures, staff training, and ensure that the voices of children in detention are heard.
Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards said: “To those who suffered such horrific abuse at Medomsley, I want to say again – I am really sorry. The failings highlighted in today’s report by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman are truly tragic, and we must ensure this never happens again.
“This Government is setting up a Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel to review how we safeguard children in custody today. This will ensure their voices are heard, complaints are taken seriously and every child is kept safe from harm.”