A NATIONAL inquiry into child sex abuse has confirmed it will not investigate the abuse of young inmates at the former Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham,.

The chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA), Professor Alexis Jay, said: "I appreciate that a large number of survivors feel very strongly that there needs to be some form of inquiry into allegations of abuse at Medomsley and that the inquiry has given indications in the past that it would conduct such an investigation.

"However, there are several factors that now militate against this inquiry conducting an investigation into Medomsley.

She added: "I appreciate that this determination will be disappointing to the survivors. This has not been an easy decision to make."

More than 1,800 came forward to police to make allegations they were either physically or sexually abused while being held at the County Durham youth facility during the 1970s and 1980s.

Five former employees have now been jailed after being convicted of their roles in the abuse following an investigation by Durham Constabulary, and two more men appeared in court last month.

Prof Jay said because many of the victims were over the age of 18 at the time they were abused IICSA's terms of reference would limit the ability to fully investigate what went on at Medomsley.

Prof Jay added because there were ongoing criminal proceedings she could not be confident that an investigation by the inquiry into Medomsley would not create a risk to their "fairness and effectiveness".

She said she would ask for her decision to be drawn to the Government's attention and they "they bear its contents in mind when determining the request... that an independent inquiry be established into events at Medomsley which affected all of those detained there".