UK abuse scandal ‘ignored because victims were working-class boys from north’, minister says

Jake Richards announces measures to prevent abuse like that at Medomsley detention centre in County Durham

One of the UK’s most horrific and shocking child custody scandals was collectively ignored for decades because the victims were working-class boys from the north of England, a government minister has said.

The sentencing and youth justice minister, Jake Richards, has announced he is implementing a number of recommendations to prevent abuse such as that which took place between 1961 and 1987 at Medomsley detention centre in County Durham from ever happening again.