Abuse Redress Schemes

The Ministry of Justice have confirmed that the Eastwood Park Detention Centre Compensation Scheme will commence shortly. The scheme will pay compensation to former detainees who were physically abused/assaulted whilst at Eastwood Park.

Awards of compensation will range between £3250 and £9500. The Ministry of Justice will provide an apology as part of their settlement offer. For all information on the scheme,  see here.

History of Eastwood Park

HMP Eastwood Park opened as a junior Detention Centre for boys aged between 14 and 17 in Falfield, South Gloucestershire in 1964. It was built on the site of a Second World War camp by inmates from Leyhill and Bristol prisons.

 It originally housed 95 boys, but then an additional accommodation block was built in 1975, which raised the certified normal accommodation to 146. In 1989 it became a young offenders’ institution. The prison closed in 1993 for refurbishment and then reopened in September 1995 as a women’s prison. 

The Detention Centre was run by the Home Office, now the Ministry of Justice. There have been numerous allegations of physical, verbal and sexual abuse by Prison Officer at this detention centre. 

A former Prison Officer Patrick Devaney, of County Down in Northern Ireland has been found guilty of misconduct in a public office. The Court heard evidence from 22 former detainees of the abuse they suffered at the hands of Devaney who was based in the detention centre’s gym. Devaney was found guilty of repeatedly assaulting boys aged between 14 to 17 years old in his care where he worked from 1970 until 1983. 

Jordans Solicitors

Jordans Solicitors have a dedicated team of highly specialist lawyers who can ensure your claim is handled sensitively, enabling you to secure the best level of compensation from those responsible for your traumatic experiences. 

If you would like help with pursuing a claim, please contact us via e-mail, telephone on our freephone number 033 03001103 or by completing a request a call back form below. 

The Church of England are planning to implement a redress scheme for survivors of abuse. The pilot scheme is designed to enable the Church to respond in particular to those survivors’ cases which are already known to the Church. Experience with these pilot cases will help inform the setting up of the Church’s full redress for victims and survivors of abuse as that is developed. 

It is understood, according to details published by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that the English Benedictine Congregation (EBC), have discussed the project and whether the scheme would extend to the whole of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

 Guidelines are also being drawn up on now to deal with sexual abuse claims brought against the Catholic Church, by the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) and the Catholic Insurance Services. 

A spokesman from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales confirmed that a redress scheme is “in its very early stages and is being considered by the CSAS… it is work in progress.” Once a full redress scheme is developed we will update our website with further information.

This scheme administers claims from former detainees of Medomsley Detention Centre who suffered physical assaults by Officers and members of staff whilst detained at Medomsley Detention Centre. Medomsley Detention Centre was a youth detention centre in Consett, County Durham which was open from between 1961 to 1987 and operated the “short, sharp shock regime”. 

Detainees were subjected to brutal, indiscriminate violence from Officers and members of staff. Medomsley Detention Centre was investigated as part of Operation Seabrook which was launched by the Durham Constabulary in 2013. This is the largest investigation of its kind.

It is understood that nearly 2000 men came forward to report their allegations of the abuse they suffered. In 2019 five former prison officers were convicted of physically assaulting detainees over the course of three separate Crown Court trials. They are: • Christopher Onslow “Machine / Mean Machine” • John McGee “Big John / Pigeon Man” • Brian Greenwell “Puppet” • Kevin Blakely “Broken Nose” • Alan Bramley “Bong Eye” Collectively they were jailed for more than 18 years. One more Officer, Alexander Flavell is due to stand trial for offences committed against detainees in February 2023. 

Details of the Scheme A former detainee who suffered physical abuse by an Officer or member of staff who was employed at Medomsley during the period they were detained can claim compensation under the scheme.

Eligibility You suffered physical abuse by an Officer or member of staff during your period of detention. Physical abuse is defined as direct application of unlawful force. To be eligible to claim compensation it is necessary to prove: 1. Your period of detention by reference to PNC records and 2. State that you suffered physical abuse by an Officer or member of staff who was employed at Medomsley during the period that you were detained. 

Compensation is assessed in accordance with the length of time you were detained and whether you have suffered lasting physical and psychological injuries. You will also receive a letter of apology from the Ministry of Justice.

Categorisation 

If a claim falls within the scheme then it will be categorised as follows: 

Category 1 – The Claimant was detained at Medomsley for 3 months or less – £1750 

Category 2 – The Claimant was detained at Medomsley for more than 3 months – £2500 

Category 3 – The Claimant has provided medical evidence to show that they sustained lasting physical or psychological injury as a result of their treatment at Medomsley – £3000 – £5000 

The length of detention will take into account multiple periods of detention and the length of detention will be based upon the sentence as set out in the PNC unless the Claimant has confirmed that he did not serve the full sentence in which case it will be based upon the length of time actually served. 

The settlement scheme is designed to compensate survivors of physical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre without the need to go through complex legal proceedings. The scheme provides certainty that former detainees will receive compensation for the physical assaults they suffered by Officers during their time there. Our lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. 

If you or someone you know has suffered abuse in any of the situations outlined above please contact the Abuse team on our dedicated freephone number 033 0300 1103 and one of our Specialist Child Abuse Lawyers will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to recover compensation to allow you to seek the required support to rebuild your life.

This scheme deals with applications for compensation for people who suffered abuse whilst a child and resident in an institution in Northern Ireland for a period of time between 1922 and 1995 inclusive. 

Abuse is defined as; Having suffered sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect or maltreatment, Having witness one or other children suffering this abuse, Having otherwise been exposed to a harsh environment. And /or Was sent to Australia under the Child Migrant Programme immediately after being a resident in an institution. 

An institution is a body, society or organisation in Northern Ireland that was responsible for the care, health, accommodation and welfare of children. It does not include educational institutions, other than training school institutions, borstal institutions or young offenders’ institutions. 

You can apply on behalf of someone who died on, or after, the 28 April 1953 if you are the deceased person’s: • surviving spouse; • civil partner; • cohabiting partner; • surviving child. The closing date for the scheme is the 31st March 2025

The amount of compensation an applicant will receive will be decided by the Redress Panel. The amounts of compensation the Redress Panel can award are: 

1. A standard award payment of £10,000 only;

2. An enhanced award payment of between £10,001 and £80,000; and 

3. An amount of £20,000 if the application is made by or in respect of a person who was sent to Australia under the Child Migrant Programme. 

To assess your eligibility for an award the Redress Panel will consider the nature and extent of the abuse suffered and the physical and psychological injuries which were suffered as a result of this abuse. 

To apply for an award it is necessary to submit an application form to the Redress Panel together with: 

1. Details of the name of the institution(s) you were resident at,

 2. Approximate dates you were there,

3. A short statement describing what happened to you whilst you were at the institution(s) The Redress Panel with also consider the disclosure of medical records or medical reports and reports from other experts when determining the application. 

In addition to a financial award of compensation your legal costs will be paid for under the scheme. Our team will be able to advise you whether you met the eligibility criteria to enable your application to succeed. 

We can also assist in completing the application form, the gathering of evidence and the preparation of a statement to provide evidence to show the abuse you have suffered and how this has affected your life. What can we do? The effects of abuse on a child can have far reaching implications, having an extreme impact on their development as adults and their day to day functioning. 

Our Lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. If you or someone you know has suffered abuse in any of the situations outlined above please contact the Abuse team on our dedicated Freephone number 0800 9555 094 and one of our Specialist Child Abuse Lawyers will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to recover compensation to allow you to seek the required support to rebuild your life.

Aston Hall was a psychiatric hospital in Derbyshire between the 1920’s to the 1990’s. It was run by Dr Kenneth Milner from 1947 to 1970. The patients were children and adults of both sexes and there would be approximately 100 patients at the hospital at anyone time. Allegations about Aston Hall first came to light in 2011. The allegations concerned the use of sodium amytal which is used as a way of recovering repressed traumatic memories. It has the effect of rendering the patient semi conscious and unable to move. In July 2014 a male made a complaint of a sexual assault to Derbyshire Police and this was followed by another complaint of abuse in the September. In July 2015 a female made a report that she was, “injected, gassed and woke up feeling sore between her legs.” In February 2016 Derbyshire Police with the support of Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board started an investigation into the hospital. The Police “prepared 115 witness statements, recorded 77 crimes and heard from 65 alleged victims.” In 2018, an independent report found children were given sodium amytal, which was not authorised for use on children. It also found victims had been given the drug, stripped, abused and put in straitjackets. The majority of allegations centred around Dr Kenneth Milner. In 2018, Derbyshire Police said Dr Milner would have been questioned over rape and cruelty claims if he was still alive. A scheme for settlement of claims has been agreed with the Secretary of State for Health. Details of the Scheme Compensation will be allocated on a tariff basis starting at £8,000 for those who can prove they were admitted to Aston Hall during the 60s and 70s and received at least one treatment of narco-analysis while a patient there. The settlement figure will increase for those who received more than one treatment: If an individual had at least one treatment of sodium amytal, they would receive an initial payment of £8,000; Former residents who had between two and five treatments would receive an additional £2,500 for each extra treatment; For between six and 15 treatments, an individual would receive an extra £1,500 per treatment; Thereafter a survivor of abuse would receive an additional £1,000 per treatment, up to a maximum of £50,000; Our Lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. If you or someone you know has suffered abuse in any of the situations outlined above please contact the Abuse team on our dedicated Freephone number 0800 9555 094 and one of our Specialist Child Abuse Lawyers will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to recover compensation to allow you to seek the required support to rebuild your life.

The Scottish Redress Scheme is a compensation scheme for people who have been abused in care as children. 

To be eligible for the scheme: 

1. The abuse must have taken place prior to the 1st December 2004; 

2. In Scotland;

 3. You must have been under the age of 18 years; 

4. The abuse must have been sexual, physical, emotional abuse and neglect; 

5. The abuse must have taken place in a long term residential setting. 

Under the scheme a successful applicant will receive: 

1. Payment 

2. Apology 

3. Emotional Support.

A fixed rate payment of £10,000 can be awarded or an application for an individually assessed payment of up to £100,000 can be made. To apply for a fixed rate payment you must show that you were living in a care setting when you were abused, when and were you were abused, together with a written statement about your experiences. 

To apply for an individually assessed payment you must provide supporting evidence of your abuse by reference to your medical, social or school records. 

Your evidence must show when and where you were abused, what type of abuse you suffered, who was involved with your abuse and whether you were singled out for specific reasons. Witness statements can be supported as evidence of your abuse, as can criminal convictions of those who were responsible for your abuse. 

It is also necessary to provide evidence to show the physical, psychological or psychiatric injuries which you have suffered. Your application will be considered by the Scheme’s panel and an award of between £10,000 to £100,000 will be offered to you.

 It is also possible of a person’s next of kin to make an application under the scheme for a fixed award of £10,000. You would be eligible if: 

1. You are the parent or partner of the person who suffered the abuse; 

2. They died after the 1st December 2004; 

3. They died before completing their application or accepting a redress payment; 

4. They met the eligibility of the Scottish Redress Scheme. 

To accept an offer of an award you must confirm your acceptance in writing and sign a legal waiver. The waiver confirms that you agreed that you will not start of continue any civil Court action about abuse that is eligible under the Scottish Redress Scheme and direction at the Scottish Government and organisations that financially contribute to the scheme and are on the contributors list. 

In addition to a financial award of compensation your legal costs will be paid for under the scheme. 

Our team will be able to advise you whether you met the eligibility criteria to enable your application to succeed. We can also assist in completing the application form, the gathering of evidence and the preparation of a statement to provide evidence to show the abuse you have suffered and how this has affected your life. 

What can we do? The effects of abuse on a child can have far reaching implications, having an extreme impact on their development as adults and their day to day functioning.

 Our Lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. If you or someone you know has suffered abuse in any of the situations outlined above please contact the Abuse team on our dedicated Freephone number 0800 9555 094 and one of our Specialist Child Abuse Lawyers will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence. Whilst we cannot change what has happened in the past, we will endeavour to recover compensation to allow you to seek the required support to rebuild your life.