This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/26/former-medway-inmate-the-guard-slammed-my-face-off-the-ice

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Former Medway inmate: 'The guard slammed my face off the ice' Former Medway inmate: 'The guard slammed my face off the ice'
(6 months later)
Lela Xhemajli admits she was a nightmare when she was a teenager – mouthy, violent and often in trouble with the police. On 24 December 2009, aged 15, she was convicted of false imprisonment, actual bodily harm and common assault, and sentenced to 30 months in a youth prison, of which she served 15.Lela Xhemajli admits she was a nightmare when she was a teenager – mouthy, violent and often in trouble with the police. On 24 December 2009, aged 15, she was convicted of false imprisonment, actual bodily harm and common assault, and sentenced to 30 months in a youth prison, of which she served 15.
She has no argument with the sentence – in fact, she says, she probably deserved to be sent away for longer. But six years on, she is still furious about the way she was treated at Medway secure training centre.She has no argument with the sentence – in fact, she says, she probably deserved to be sent away for longer. But six years on, she is still furious about the way she was treated at Medway secure training centre.
“I wasn’t the best behaved kid in the unit, so I got restrained a lot,” she says.“I wasn’t the best behaved kid in the unit, so I got restrained a lot,” she says.
Once a month? She shakes her head. “No, more.”Once a month? She shakes her head. “No, more.”
Related: Revealed: G4S youth jail faced abuse claims 12 years ago
Once a week? Again she shakes her head. “No, more. Five or six times a month. It gets me really angry actually. It’s not right what they do. I didn’t feel like nothing in that place. I didn’t even feel I existed.”Once a week? Again she shakes her head. “No, more. Five or six times a month. It gets me really angry actually. It’s not right what they do. I didn’t feel like nothing in that place. I didn’t even feel I existed.”
Xhemajli is now 21, and proud of the way she has turned her life around. After Medway, she was put in a care home, and then served time in the adult prison HMP Downview (where, she says, she was treated far better). For the past three years Xhemajli has kept out of trouble, and is now working as a cash office supervisor, managing till operators.Xhemajli is now 21, and proud of the way she has turned her life around. After Medway, she was put in a care home, and then served time in the adult prison HMP Downview (where, she says, she was treated far better). For the past three years Xhemajli has kept out of trouble, and is now working as a cash office supervisor, managing till operators.
What was she restrained for? “Petty stuff, on the whole. Obviously, if we had a fight we’d be restrained. But if we refused to go to our bedroom within 3-5 minutes they’ll call first [emergency] response, and there will be loads of people to restrain you. And you feel as if you’ve been beaten up the next day.”What was she restrained for? “Petty stuff, on the whole. Obviously, if we had a fight we’d be restrained. But if we refused to go to our bedroom within 3-5 minutes they’ll call first [emergency] response, and there will be loads of people to restrain you. And you feel as if you’ve been beaten up the next day.”
She describes the manner in which she would be restrained – one person holding the right arm, another holding the left, and a third person holding her head.She describes the manner in which she would be restrained – one person holding the right arm, another holding the left, and a third person holding her head.
Restraint for non-compliance is unlawful. Young people in secure training centres should only be restrained as a last resort to prevent injury, damage or escape.Restraint for non-compliance is unlawful. Young people in secure training centres should only be restrained as a last resort to prevent injury, damage or escape.
Xhemajli is one of many children who allege they have been violently restrained in G4S-run secure training units.Xhemajli is one of many children who allege they have been violently restrained in G4S-run secure training units.
She recalls a restraint that still gives her nightmares. This particular restraint, she alleges, involved only one member of staff.She recalls a restraint that still gives her nightmares. This particular restraint, she alleges, involved only one member of staff.
“We were in the sports hall and the whole of our unit, Avon, was playing up. A member of staff tried to get me out of the way and nearly threw me down the stairs, so I kicked off. They called first response and they had to get me from the sports hall to the unit. It had been snowing and was really icy.“We were in the sports hall and the whole of our unit, Avon, was playing up. A member of staff tried to get me out of the way and nearly threw me down the stairs, so I kicked off. They called first response and they had to get me from the sports hall to the unit. It had been snowing and was really icy.
“The member of staff dragged me out of the sports hall – there were about 12 members of staff watching – and he was slipping all over the place. He grabbed me by my hair and was slamming my face off the ice, swearing at me. He had one arm under my neck and was pulling me off my feet, and every time I moved he’d slip and then get even more angry with me and slam my face off the ice again.“The member of staff dragged me out of the sports hall – there were about 12 members of staff watching – and he was slipping all over the place. He grabbed me by my hair and was slamming my face off the ice, swearing at me. He had one arm under my neck and was pulling me off my feet, and every time I moved he’d slip and then get even more angry with me and slam my face off the ice again.
“It took about an hour and 45 minutes to get me inside. They’d stripped my whole room when I went back in. Not even a towel. And I was freezing – I thought I had frostbite. The next day I went to my visit, and my face was swollen and red. My dad was horrified. He was even more angry than I was.”“It took about an hour and 45 minutes to get me inside. They’d stripped my whole room when I went back in. Not even a towel. And I was freezing – I thought I had frostbite. The next day I went to my visit, and my face was swollen and red. My dad was horrified. He was even more angry than I was.”
Did she complain? “I complained countless times.”Did she complain? “I complained countless times.”
Who to? “My social worker, the duty operations managers, the youth offending team. There wasn’t a person I didn’t complain to there.”Who to? “My social worker, the duty operations managers, the youth offending team. There wasn’t a person I didn’t complain to there.”
She pauses. “Don’t get me wrong. Some members of staff are absolutely brilliant; they listen to you. If it takes an hour to settle you down and make you feel a bit better about yourself, they would take an hour. But there are others who, as long as they lock you in your cell, they don’t care about nothing else.”She pauses. “Don’t get me wrong. Some members of staff are absolutely brilliant; they listen to you. If it takes an hour to settle you down and make you feel a bit better about yourself, they would take an hour. But there are others who, as long as they lock you in your cell, they don’t care about nothing else.”
How many times does she feel she deserved to be restrained? “Never. Not the way they did it. They got a thrill out of doing it,” she claims. “It feels like you’ve been put in a headlock and you’re just dragged along like an animal. One person holding your head and every time that person is holding your head. You literally cannot breathe.”How many times does she feel she deserved to be restrained? “Never. Not the way they did it. They got a thrill out of doing it,” she claims. “It feels like you’ve been put in a headlock and you’re just dragged along like an animal. One person holding your head and every time that person is holding your head. You literally cannot breathe.”
Xhemajli’s best friend, Roni Moss, 21, also spent time in Medway. The pair say their friendship is the only good thing that came out of their stays at the centre.Xhemajli’s best friend, Roni Moss, 21, also spent time in Medway. The pair say their friendship is the only good thing that came out of their stays at the centre.
Like Xhemajli, Moss remembers the exact date she was imprisoned. “I went in 24th January 2010 for street robbery – six months’ detention.”Like Xhemajli, Moss remembers the exact date she was imprisoned. “I went in 24th January 2010 for street robbery – six months’ detention.”
Moss says she had had a tough childhood, had recently lost her mother and was not in a good place. She was in Medway twice – first she served three months, then she got in trouble again and was sentenced to 10 months.Moss says she had had a tough childhood, had recently lost her mother and was not in a good place. She was in Medway twice – first she served three months, then she got in trouble again and was sentenced to 10 months.
Yes, she says, she feared prison but, as it turned out, for the wrong reasons. “I was more worried about the girls that would be in there, but that was the least of my worries. Some of the staff were nice, but some just seemed out to get you.”Yes, she says, she feared prison but, as it turned out, for the wrong reasons. “I was more worried about the girls that would be in there, but that was the least of my worries. Some of the staff were nice, but some just seemed out to get you.”
Shortly after going into Medway, she asked for a pregnancy test. “I knew something was wrong, and they said I was anaemic, something to do with my iron levels. It turned out I was pregnant. Shortly after, I miscarried, and that was not long after being restrained.”Shortly after going into Medway, she asked for a pregnancy test. “I knew something was wrong, and they said I was anaemic, something to do with my iron levels. It turned out I was pregnant. Shortly after, I miscarried, and that was not long after being restrained.”
Why had she been restrained? “I refused to go to bed one night,” she says. “It took them 45 minutes to get me to my bedroom.” She acts it out – arms grabbed, head pushed down.Why had she been restrained? “I refused to go to bed one night,” she says. “It took them 45 minutes to get me to my bedroom.” She acts it out – arms grabbed, head pushed down.
G4S says it has no record of Moss being restrained at this time.G4S says it has no record of Moss being restrained at this time.
“Two week later I miscarried. It was about 2-3am, the night staff came to me and said ‘What’s going on?’ I was in such pain, and there was blood everywhere, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I knew what was going on, but I didn’t want to believe it in my head. The member of staff took about 25 minutes to come back with another three or four staff, they gave me two sanitary towels and told me to go back to sleep.”“Two week later I miscarried. It was about 2-3am, the night staff came to me and said ‘What’s going on?’ I was in such pain, and there was blood everywhere, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I knew what was going on, but I didn’t want to believe it in my head. The member of staff took about 25 minutes to come back with another three or four staff, they gave me two sanitary towels and told me to go back to sleep.”
Moss, who now has one baby and another on the way, starts to cry. “I’m sorry. When you speak about it, it’s like reliving it again. The pain of miscarrying is like giving birth to a child, and to be locked in that room, going through all that on your own, is horrible. And to not even be offered counselling. Nothing. I didn’t get nothing. I was 15 years old. I was a child.”Moss, who now has one baby and another on the way, starts to cry. “I’m sorry. When you speak about it, it’s like reliving it again. The pain of miscarrying is like giving birth to a child, and to be locked in that room, going through all that on your own, is horrible. And to not even be offered counselling. Nothing. I didn’t get nothing. I was 15 years old. I was a child.”
She says no member of staff talked to her about what she had been through, and her requests to go to hospital were ignored. “So I was left all night on my own in this cell having a miscarriage. I couldn’t sleep, I was up all night crying. It took them about a week and a half to take me to the hospital to get me checked out to see if I had any infection.She says no member of staff talked to her about what she had been through, and her requests to go to hospital were ignored. “So I was left all night on my own in this cell having a miscarriage. I couldn’t sleep, I was up all night crying. It took them about a week and a half to take me to the hospital to get me checked out to see if I had any infection.
“The doctor confirmed I’d had a miscarriage and made another appointment for me to go back. He said I needed a scan and x-ray. Anything could have happened to me in that week and a half.”“The doctor confirmed I’d had a miscarriage and made another appointment for me to go back. He said I needed a scan and x-ray. Anything could have happened to me in that week and a half.”
Talking about her second time at Medway, Moss recalls one particular restraint which she claims left her in agony. “The DOM [duty operational manager] raised her arm as she grabbed my head which caused me to have a nose bleed. I’d never had a nose bleed before. And another man grabbed me by my back and I was in pain for two weeks. When I breathed in it hurt. I couldn’t breathe properly.”Talking about her second time at Medway, Moss recalls one particular restraint which she claims left her in agony. “The DOM [duty operational manager] raised her arm as she grabbed my head which caused me to have a nose bleed. I’d never had a nose bleed before. And another man grabbed me by my back and I was in pain for two weeks. When I breathed in it hurt. I couldn’t breathe properly.”
What she describes sounds like a restraint technique known as nose distraction, which involves a sharp jab under the nose. It had been banned two years earlier, in 2008, after a review into the deaths of teenagers Gareth Myatt, at Rainsbrook STC, and Adam Rickwood, at Hassockfield STC, which was run by Serco, after they were restrained.What she describes sounds like a restraint technique known as nose distraction, which involves a sharp jab under the nose. It had been banned two years earlier, in 2008, after a review into the deaths of teenagers Gareth Myatt, at Rainsbrook STC, and Adam Rickwood, at Hassockfield STC, which was run by Serco, after they were restrained.
Related: G4S youth jails: a story of revolving doors, dangerous restraints and death
The Guardian has seen a letter sent to Moss at Medway STC from the local authority, confirming that her complaint had been investigated and concluding that she received “an accidental elbow to the nose”. Moss insists she never received the letter.The Guardian has seen a letter sent to Moss at Medway STC from the local authority, confirming that her complaint had been investigated and concluding that she received “an accidental elbow to the nose”. Moss insists she never received the letter.
A spokesman for G4S said: “It is worth noting that [the then Medway director] Ben Saunders took the decision not to use the nose distraction restraint at Medway one year before receiving instruction [not to use the method] from the Youth Justice Board.”A spokesman for G4S said: “It is worth noting that [the then Medway director] Ben Saunders took the decision not to use the nose distraction restraint at Medway one year before receiving instruction [not to use the method] from the Youth Justice Board.”
In addition to the alleged abuse, both women say some male guards failed to respect their privacy.In addition to the alleged abuse, both women say some male guards failed to respect their privacy.
“Male members of staff are supposed to knock on your door to see if you’re decent, and without getting a response they’re not supposed to enter your room,” Xhemajli says. “It was mainly a couple of male members of staff who wouldn’t knock; I’d be in the shower or toilet and they’d just walk into your room.”“Male members of staff are supposed to knock on your door to see if you’re decent, and without getting a response they’re not supposed to enter your room,” Xhemajli says. “It was mainly a couple of male members of staff who wouldn’t knock; I’d be in the shower or toilet and they’d just walk into your room.”
G4S has confirmed one member of staff got a written warning for entering rooms inappropriately, and no longer works for the company.G4S has confirmed one member of staff got a written warning for entering rooms inappropriately, and no longer works for the company.
Moss says her experience in Medway led to a breakdown. She began to cut herself. “I hated my time there. I self-harmed a lot. I cut myself with anything I could get hold of. I’ve got the scars now; I’ve got to live with them every day. I’d never self harmed before I went into Medway and have never since. It was a really big release to do it, it made me feel so much better, but it wasn’t the right way to deal with it.”Moss says her experience in Medway led to a breakdown. She began to cut herself. “I hated my time there. I self-harmed a lot. I cut myself with anything I could get hold of. I’ve got the scars now; I’ve got to live with them every day. I’d never self harmed before I went into Medway and have never since. It was a really big release to do it, it made me feel so much better, but it wasn’t the right way to deal with it.”
Although Medway only holds 76 children, Moss says she never met Saunders.Although Medway only holds 76 children, Moss says she never met Saunders.
Does she think he knew what was going on? “He must have known what was going on because I complained to him in writing, but we never got to see him or speak to him in person. All we got was a piece of paper to write a complaint. He never came to the units to try to speak to you about your problems.Does she think he knew what was going on? “He must have known what was going on because I complained to him in writing, but we never got to see him or speak to him in person. All we got was a piece of paper to write a complaint. He never came to the units to try to speak to you about your problems.
“If this was going on, it was his responsibility to find out what was going on. And I never saw him once on the units.”“If this was going on, it was his responsibility to find out what was going on. And I never saw him once on the units.”
After Moss left Medway she moved to Southend where she still lives. When Xhemajli was released she moved in with Moss for a while before getting her flat in Forest Gate, east London.After Moss left Medway she moved to Southend where she still lives. When Xhemajli was released she moved in with Moss for a while before getting her flat in Forest Gate, east London.
“She’s kept me on the straight and narrow,” Xhemajli says of Moss. “I went to live with her and haven’t got in trouble since.”“She’s kept me on the straight and narrow,” Xhemajli says of Moss. “I went to live with her and haven’t got in trouble since.”
They have found it tough talking about their time in Medway, but both say they are relieved; it feels like a weight has been lifted.They have found it tough talking about their time in Medway, but both say they are relieved; it feels like a weight has been lifted.
“I knew there would come a time when people would believe us about what happened in Medway,” Xhemajli says.“I knew there would come a time when people would believe us about what happened in Medway,” Xhemajli says.
“I’m just glad I had Lela in there to help me go through what I went through,” Moss says. “If she hadn’t been there I wouldn’t be here today.”“I’m just glad I had Lela in there to help me go through what I went through,” Moss says. “If she hadn’t been there I wouldn’t be here today.”
After the BBC Panorama programme, G4S announced that Ralph Marchant was stepping down as the director of Medway and Saunders had been reappointed to the role. G4S confirmed, however, that Marchant was still working at the facility “partly at the express request of the police to help them identify staff and incidents as they go through the Panorama footage. He is also advising us during the transition to a new contract.”After the BBC Panorama programme, G4S announced that Ralph Marchant was stepping down as the director of Medway and Saunders had been reappointed to the role. G4S confirmed, however, that Marchant was still working at the facility “partly at the express request of the police to help them identify staff and incidents as they go through the Panorama footage. He is also advising us during the transition to a new contract.”
G4S acknowledged that both women had made complaints during their stay at Medway but insisted they were dealt with adequately.G4S acknowledged that both women had made complaints during their stay at Medway but insisted they were dealt with adequately.
“We received six complaints and one child protection referral from Lela Xhemajli (these range from food containing gelatine, to not being able to do the advertised regime activity and an alleged assault).”“We received six complaints and one child protection referral from Lela Xhemajli (these range from food containing gelatine, to not being able to do the advertised regime activity and an alleged assault).”
Xhemajli insists she made many more formal complaints, often about restraint.Xhemajli insists she made many more formal complaints, often about restraint.
In relation to Moss, G4S said: “We have identified one complaint and one child protection referral, regarding the conduct of another trainee and an alleged assault respectively. These were fully investigated by Medway children’s services and the young people were contacted.In relation to Moss, G4S said: “We have identified one complaint and one child protection referral, regarding the conduct of another trainee and an alleged assault respectively. These were fully investigated by Medway children’s services and the young people were contacted.
“We believe that this shows a culture in which complaints are taken seriously and fully investigated, with the outcome being communicated clearly with the young people involved. Inspection reports for the period also praise the centre’s complaints and referral process to outside agencies.”“We believe that this shows a culture in which complaints are taken seriously and fully investigated, with the outcome being communicated clearly with the young people involved. Inspection reports for the period also praise the centre’s complaints and referral process to outside agencies.”
G4S’s records confirmed Moss’s miscarriage and that she was not scanned for another 10 days. “A scan was arranged immediately, but the appointments were cancelled by the hospital due to staff issues.”G4S’s records confirmed Moss’s miscarriage and that she was not scanned for another 10 days. “A scan was arranged immediately, but the appointments were cancelled by the hospital due to staff issues.”
The regional president for G4S in the UK and Ireland, Peter Neden, said: “These allegations relate to a period during which government inspectors praised Medway secure training centre for its ‘robust and transparent’ structures to safeguard young people. Inspectors also remarked on the strong working partnership with local authority child protection services, and that young people generally reported positive relationships with staff, which they described as ‘appropriately friendly but professional’.”The regional president for G4S in the UK and Ireland, Peter Neden, said: “These allegations relate to a period during which government inspectors praised Medway secure training centre for its ‘robust and transparent’ structures to safeguard young people. Inspectors also remarked on the strong working partnership with local authority child protection services, and that young people generally reported positive relationships with staff, which they described as ‘appropriately friendly but professional’.”