It has been announced that the Medomsley compensation scheme has been extended until January 2023 which now allows survivors of abuse to claim for compensation, even if their abuser has died or has not been on trial or sentenced.
Alistair Smith and the Abuse Claims Department at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors have been leading the fight for justice for the victims of Medomsley Detention Centre and welcome the extension of the scheme.
Medomsley Detention Centre was a prison for young male offenders from 1961 until the late 1980s, providing a place for young offenders aged 17-21 to prevent them from being sent to a mainstream prison. At Medomsley, during their stay of usually around six to eight weeks, some inmates were subjected to sexual, physical and mental abuse from prison officers.
Alistair and the team at Watson Woodhouse have helped many Medomsley victims in their fight for justice and compensation for the abuse they experienced. Now, after months of discussion with the Ministry of Justice, the Medomsley Steering Group, who represent over 1000 claimants, have agreed on a settlement scheme designed to help provide compensation to former Medomsley inmates affected by the abuse that occurred.
The scheme provides an amount of compensation relative to the length of time an inmate was detained. There is a provision in the scheme to compensate for lasting injuries, physical and psychological.
To be eligible for the scheme:
- You must have suffered physical abuse from a member of staff who was employed at Medomsley during the period you were detained; and
- You must have independent evidence of your period of detention. This is, usually, obtained by us making a simple application.
Under the scheme, physical abuse is defined as “the direct application of unlawful force”. Therefore, it is more than running the perimeter fence or being made to perform bunny hops.
At Watson Woodhouse, our solicitors have acted for many victims of historical abuse and understand the trauma survivors have to deal with on a daily basis. We deal with all cases in a sensitive and confidential manner, with both male and female solicitors available to provide advice and support on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. With Medomsley Detention Centre we will not be deducting success fees from claimant’s awards, so our clients will keep 100% of the compensation they are awarded.
Watson Woodhouse Solicitors offer a no obligation, free initial consultation with flexible appointments to suit your needs.
If you have been the victim of abuse at the hands of Medomsley Detention Centre and would like our support to take action, you can speak to Alistair Smith, or another member of the team by calling us today on 01642 247656.