Rob is an experienced Child Abuse Compensation specialist and a Director of Switalskis. He is based at our Wakefield office.
Switalskis Solicitors Ltd
19 Cheapside
Wakefield
WF1 2SD
Rob helps survivors of child abuse and as a solicitor advocate he is able to represent them in courts at all levels. As a director of the firm, he also plays a key role in the child abuse compensation team, assisting David Greenwood in running what is one of our fastest-growing departments.
Rob qualified as a solicitor in 1995 and has many years’ experience of dealing with child abuse claims . He has particular experience in claims against institutions and government agencies, most notably for survivors of abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre and now Eastwood Park Detention Centre.
HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, South Gloucestershire was a junior Detention Centre for boys, opened from 1964 till 1995. There have been numerous allegations of abuse by Prison Officers at this detention centre.
Among the abusive former prison officers, Patrick Devaney was convicted of offences against detainees in 2023. We act for over 100 men who suffered physical and sometimes sexual abuse at Eastwood Park.
It has been confirmed that the Eastwood Park Detention Centre Compensation Scheme is shortly due to commence following a meeting with the Ministry of Justice. Compensation will be paid to ex-detainees who were physically abused / assaulted whilst serving their sentence. Find out more here.
Rob is primarily based in Wakefield, but often represents clients in cases across the Yorkshire region and nationally.
Rob has recently been heavily involved in representing many survivors of abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre and is experienced in dealing with claims against the Ministry of Justice as well as other agencies and institutions.
As an experienced court advocate, Rob has undertaken a wide-range of hearings, and this allows him to bring an extra dimension to his work advising and representing clients right from the outset of their claims. He has a confident, realistic and practical approach which clients find both reassuring and effective.
As the supervising Director for the firm’s Criminal Law work, Rob also ensures that the quality and service provided by our criminal lawyers is consistently high.
"Right from the start to the finished outcome I was treated with the utmost courtesy and was kept informed every step of the way - thank you."
Child Abuse Compensation Client
It has been confirmed that the Eastwood Park Detention Centre Compensation Scheme will shortly commence following a meeting held with the Ministry of Justice. Compensation will be paid to ex-detainees who were physically abused or assaulted whilst serving their sentence.
Earlier this year the Ministry of Justice finally agreed to open a scheme to pay compensation to those who suffered physical abuse at Medomsley
Former Eastwood Park Detention Centre Officer Patrick Devaney was due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 11 August having previously been convicted of misfeasance in public office in March 2023.
An independent report into child sexual abuse allegations in football has revealed sgnificant institutional failings were made by the Football Association