Kirklevington Detention Centre is under investigation for historic abuse against detainees

Former inmates have alleged to have been “forgotten and frozen out” after claiming to have been abused as youths at a correctional facility.

The Kirklevington Detention Centre, which operated from the 1960s to the 1990s, has been the focus of multiple historical abuse claims of staff members abusing juvenile inmates physically and sexually.

The youth detention facility for boys, in North Yorkshire, was designed to provide ‘short, sharp, shock’ treatment for young offenders aged between 14 and 17 years old.

However, ex-offenders claim that the system was cruel and that they were frequently beaten.

Investigation findings

In 2014, Cleveland Police started Operation Magnolia to examine a large number of allegations against the young victims. As of today, the investigation is now in its eleventh year.

Police say that 818 victims have come forward to tell of their horrifying experiences. Reporting that staff members sexually or physically abused them.

After Cleveland Police spoke with 21 suspects, they provided an update on their website on 5th February 2025 noting the impact the delay is having upon the victims.

Regrettably, no convictions have been secured.

Kirklevington Detention Centre victims are reluctant to file a claim

For a variety of reasons, several of the male inmates who were children at the time of their incarceration in Kirklevington Detention Centre have expressed reluctance to make a claim for compensation:

• The abuse took place a long time ago – That does not prevent you from claiming historic child abuse.
• The claim will be against the staff member – Claims are made against the Ministry of Justice as the Home Office operated the detention centre and they were responsible for their staff.
• They were a young offender – The fact that as a young person, you were sent to Kirklevington by the justice system is irrelevant. You should not have been abused by the staff responsible for caring for you.
• They went on to commit additional offenses – Whatever the nature or length of your record, you should not have been abused whilst you were a child at Kirklevington, and you have a right to have your compensation claim investigated.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, our friendly, non-judgmental legal team is here to help. We provide free, confidential advice and support you without pressure or obligation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CICA?

The CICA is a government-funded authority that aims to compensate blameless victims of assault or other violent crimes. It was originally formed in 1996 with the sole purpose of providing compensation to blameless victims of violent crime.

The value of compensation that it offers for a single injury can vary from £1,000 up to £250,000, with a maximum payment of £500,000 being available for a CICA claim.

A physical assault is the most generic form of a claim submitted to the CICA. They can often involve unprovoked attacks, sometimes with the suspect using a weapon to inflict the injuries.

Will I be eligible to claim from the CICA after a criminal assault?

If you have been the victim of a physical assault, then you will have satisfied the first CICA eligibility branch of suffering a ‘crime of violence.’

Usually, the assault must have taken place in the past 2 years, although there are exceptions to this rule, the assault must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. For further details on eligibility, please see our in-depth guide on CICA claims.

How long will the CICA take to complete a sexual abuse/assault claim?

The CICA advises that, from the date they receive an application, it aims to take around twelve-eighteen months to make its initial decision on a claim.

This timescale can vary depending on the circumstances of the assault, the severity of injuries, and the complexity of the overall claim.

There could be many reasons why your claim is taking a while. These could include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:

• The police are not responding promptly to the CICA’s requests for information.
• The CICA has an extensive workload and many claims to address.
• You have delayed in providing any requested evidence to the CICA.
• Medical professionals have delayed providing any requested evidence to the CICA.
• You have reviewed or appealed a CICA decision (the average 12–18-month time scale no longer applies after a decision is challenged by an applicant)
• You have impending criminal convictions.

Please note, due to the nature of how the CICA works it can often appear that your claim is taking a while when in fact it is within the CICA’s usual timescales. It is important to understand that CICA timescales are not equivalent to day-to-day timescales.

What can I claim?

The CICA pays out compensation for injuries based on their tariff of injuries. You can only receive compensation for 3 injuries from this tariff, and only the highest valued will be paid the full amount. The second and third highest-valued injuries will be paid at 30% and 15% of the tariff amount, respectively.

In addition to this, the CICA can give awards for special expenses which relate to the abuse. They must be reasonable, necessary, and a direct result of the crime for which you are claiming.

In order to claim special expenses, you will need to have experienced a loss of earnings for at least 28 full weeks after the incident. There are a range of special expenses that will be backdated; however, if you wish to claim loss of earnings, this will only be paid from the 29th week onwards.

Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make my claim?

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your historical abuse claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny.

If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.

You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we can assign you one of our female advisors to conduct your claim.

Your case-handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

Further reading

Kirklevington Detention Centre abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors

Sexual Abuse/Domestic abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors

Historic abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors

BBC Radio Tees – BBC Sounds interview

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