Abuse Redress Schemes

The Eastwood Park Detention Centre Compensation Scheme was launched on the 14th January 2025. The scheme applies to all to claims notified to the Ministry of Justice by no later than one year from the commencement of the scheme; ie by the 14th January 2026

Awards of compensation will range between £3000 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 Harrods Redress Scheme is a compensation scheme for people who have suffered sexual abuse perpetrated by Mohammed AL Fayed.

To be eligible for the scheme a person must:

1. Be able to prove their identity ;
2. Provide written evidence and/or documentation to prove on the balance of probabilities that:
3. They were subjected to sexual assault/ wrongful testing and
4. Harrods is vicariously liable for the sexual assault/wrongful testing.

Under the scheme the successful applicant will receive:

1. General Damages of up to £200,000;
2. Aggravated Damages of to £25,000;
3. Wrongful Testing Fixed Payment(s) of up to £10,000;
4. Treatment Costs;
5. Work Impact Payment of up to £150,000. This payment will be in addition to any other head of loss.

There is a choice of the pathway an eligible applicant who has suffered a sexual assault can take.

Non-Medical Pathway

This is the route which is intended for eligible applicants who do not consider that they have suffered a psychological injury or do not wish to undergo a medical assessment or provide their medical records. This pathway compensates for the sexual assault but not for any accompanying psychological injury.

Compensation under the non- medical pathway is:

1. General damages up to £110,000
2. Aggravated damages of up to £25,000
3. Wrongful Testing Fixed Payment of up to £10,000
4. Discretionary Past Treatment costs of up to £5000

Medical Pathway

This is the route intended for eligible applicants who wish to establish that they have suffered a psychiatric injury. The eligible applicant will be assessed by a scheme medical expert and will be requested to disclose medical records and any information requested by the administrators of the scheme.

Compensation under the medical pathway is:

1. General damages of up to £200,000
2. Aggravated Damages of up to £25,000
3. Wrongful Testing Fixed Payment of up to £10,000

4. Treatment costs:

   Past treatment costs which the scheme medical expert has identified as reasonable of up to £10,000

   Future treatment costs as recommended by the scheme medical expert

    

5. A Work Impact Payment of up to £150,000.

In addition, Harrods will provide a personal apology to each eligible applicant. They will also offer a meeting with a senior representative from Harrods to receive an apology in person or by video if this is possible.

To accept an award, it is necessary to complete a form of discharge which confirms that the compensation is accepted in full and final settlement of any personal injury claims in any jurisdiction arising out of or associated with sexual abuse by Mohammed Al Fayed and/or medical against Harrods. The compensation will be paid within 21 days of receiving the completed form.

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

The scheme will close for applications on the 31st March 2026.

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 and gathering the necessary evidence. 

We can also advise on the best route to take under the scheme and the  level of compensation you deserve, together with negotiating with the scheme administrator on your behalf.

What can we do? The effects of abuse can have far reaching implications and affect a person’s daily life and functioning.

Our Lawyers are here to provide support and guidance at a very difficult time. If you or someone you know has suffered sexual abuse by Mohammed AL Fayed in the situations outlined above, please contact the Abuse team on our dedicated Freephone number 0800 9555 094 and one of our Specialist 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.

On the 14th July 2025, the Church of England gave final approval to a comprehensive redress scheme for survivors of Church related abuse. This completes the Church’s legislative process, paving the way for the scheme to open for redress applications, subject to Parliamentary approval and royal assent.

From the 18th July 2025 a public website was opened to enable prospective applicants to register their interest and received advance notification of the scheme’s official opening date once it is known.

Prospective applicants can register their interest by visiting the website below. Once the scheme is open and operating, survivors will be able to apply at this same dedicated website: http://www.redresscofe.org/

The key details of the draft scheme, which is still in its development stages are:

Eligibility: 

The scheme will be open to both adult and child survivors of abuse within the Church of England.

Abuse: 

The Church has indicated that the scheme will not just be for those who have suffered sexual abuse, it will cover other forms of abuse as well including, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, financial abuse, neglect and maltreatment.

An applicant must meet two conditions:

1. The abuse was either someone in authority in the Church or the applicant had reasonable grounds to believe that they had authority and 

2. That there was a close connection between the activities authorised for performing that role and carrying out the abuse.

Redress: 

This includes financial compensation, therapeutic, spiritual, and emotional support, as well as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an apology from the Church. It is predicted that monetary awards under the scheme could range from £5,000 to £600,000.

How will the scheme work:

The current proposals are that the scheme will have a four-stage framework:

Stage 1: Application will be assessed according to the type of abuse with awards ranging between £5,000 to £150,000.

Stage 2: Any aggravating factors will be considered, which could result in the stage one award being increased by up to 100%.

Stage 3: The impact of the abuse on the applicant will be considered and could add between £10,000 and £250,000 to the award.

Stage 4: In rare circumstances there may be a further 20% uplift.

Legal Costs:

Legal costs associated with making a claim will be covered.

Claimants:

If a survivor dies, their partner, dependent child, or parent can bring a claim on their behalf. 

Scheme Duration:

The scheme is intended to be open for a period of five years. 

Survivor Involvement:

Survivors have been actively involved in the development of the scheme, contributing their expertise and experience through a working group. 

Financial Provisions:

The Church has already allocated £150 million to fund the redress scheme

We would urge anyone who would like advice to contact us now to discuss your potential eligibility to claim compensation under the scheme. We can get your case ready so as soon as the scheme opens, we can put your application in promptly.

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.

Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit was a treatment facility based in St Albans, which was operational between 1969 and 1995. The Unit was supposed to treat teenagers under the age of 16 with psychiatric illnesses and mental health issues, most of whom were vulnerable or under care orders. 

Dr Peter Bruggen (now deceased), was a Consultant Adolescent psychiatrist who managed Hill End and was known for using ‘unconventional’ methods for treating the patients at Hill End.

According to the Hill End records, high doses of antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine and chloral hydrate were routinely given to patients as a method of control, with many patients reporting the staff injecting them by force, and then further sedating the patients when they woke up.

In addition to being heavily sedated, many former patients at Hill End have reported being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by the staff, including sexual assaults, rapes and unlawful strip searches.

As a result of the numerous claims that have been made in relation to the abuse at Hill End, a scheme has now been agreed by the Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to provide monetary compensation to survivors of abuse at Hill End, and to finally receive an apology for what they were forced to endure.

Jordans Solicitors now act for former patients at Hill End Hospital Adolescent Unit in relation to their experiences at the Unit.

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

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.