The Prisons and Probations Ombudsman has been commissioned to carry out a special investigation into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre (Medomsley) from 1961 to 1987.
We are asking anyone who experienced abuse or knew about what was happening at Medomsley to share any information that will help us carry out this investigation. Any information shared with us will treated in strict confidence and will not be shared unless you give the go-ahead to do so.
You can watch the video appeal or read the open letter from the Senior Investigator, Richard Tucker, on this page.
Reach out to our investigation team
You can reach us in a number of ways.
- Email us at ppomedomsleyinvestigation@ppo.gov.uk (access to this mailbox is restricted and all messages are strictly confidential)
- Call or text: 07511 165 266
- Complete our anonymous online questionnaire without sharing your details
If your query is not about Medomsley and you would like to talk to the PPO, please visit our general contact page.
Video appeal for information
Open letter from Richard Tucker, Senior Investigator
My name is Richard Tucker and I have been appointed by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) as the Senior Investigator for Operation Deerness, the independent special investigation into the abuse suffered by detainees at the Medomsley Detention Centre (Medomsley) between 1961 and 1987.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody. The PPO was commissioned to undertake thisindependent investigation by the Secretary of State for Justice, the Right Honourable Alex Chalk MP on 24 October 2023.
We are in the preliminary stages of our investigation, but I want to be clear that we are working for all the people affected by the abuse to find the truth of what happened.
We are reaching out to ask that anyone who wants to share their experiences or has any knowledge of what occurred at Medomsley to contact my investigative team via the following email: ppomedomsleyinvestigation@ppo.gov.uk.
Access to the mailbox is restricted and all correspondence is strictly confidential. Any information shared with us will be handled confidentially and will not be shared without your consent. Alternatively, you can call or text the Operation Deerness team on the number listed above. We only handle queries relating to Medomsley, please visit our general contact page if you want to contact the PPO.
The investigative team is working closely with Durham Police to access the large amount of material they hold relating to the previous police investigations into abuse of detainees at Medomsley.
The scope of the Operation Deerness investigation is to determine what authorities knew about the abuse that took place at Medomsley, whether there were opportunities for authorities to have taken action or intervened at that time, and what actions (if any) were taken in such instances.
I am acutely aware that for some of you, recalling the time you spent in or working at Medomsley will be distressing. If you do require help and support, I would encourage you to speak to a loved one or an agency which can provide professional support. You can find a list of support agencies on our website under the Operation Deerness page.
Please reach out to us if you would like to engage with our investigation.
I appreciate there will be many out there with feelings of mistrust for the authorities, but I urge you to come forward as it is never too late to share your story.