Operation Deerness is the special investigation into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) was commissioned by the Secretary of State of Justice to carry out this special investigation. The final report will be published on this website.
About Medomsley
This facility was open from 1961 to 1987, holding boys and young men aged 17-21. Many of these young men suffered widespread and serious abuse. Police investigations have since led to the conviction of 7 former members of staff.
About Operation Deerness
The PPO investigation will look into:
- what the authorities knew about the abuse over this period
- if there were opportunities for them to take action or intervene
- what action they took, if any
This is not a criminal investigation. The PPO will not re-investigate the facts of the abuse or individual incidents.
View the investigation’s complete terms of reference.
PPO issue a Call for Evidence asking relevant authorities and organizations to share information they may hold about the abuse which took place.
Appeal for information
If you were detained or worked at Medomsley, or want to share information with our team in complete confidence, get in touch. It is never too late to tell your story.