Morton Hall Prison – GOV.UK

Book and plan your visit to Morton Hall

To visit someone in Morton Hall you can either book your visit or turn up on the day. Spaces fill up in advance so you are advised to book or risk getting turned away.

You will also need identification.

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Contact Morton Hall if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

• travel to Morton Hall
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Visits can be booked only by telephone.

Booking line: 01522 666 819
The booking line is open Monday to Sunday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Monday: 9am to 11:15am and 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Tuesday: 9am to 11:15am and 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Wednesday: 9am to 11:15am and 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Thursday: 9am to 11:15am and 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Friday: 9am to 11:15am and 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Saturday: 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Sunday: 1:30pm to 4:15pm

Visitors must arrive at least 20 minutes before the end of the visit to gain entry.

How to book legal and professional visits

Legal visits can only be booked by telephone.

Booking line: 01522 666 819
Daily, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times are Monday to Friday, 9am to 11:45am and 1:15pm to 5pm.

Visitors must arrive at least 20 minutes before the end of the visit to gain entry.

Getting to Morton Hall

Find Morton Hall on a map

The closest railway station is Swinderby, about a 15 minute walk from Morton Hall, however rail and bus services are limited.

Visitors can request a taxi from Lincoln or Newark-on-Trent by calling the visitors centre on 01522 666 819. Taxis must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. The line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 11:30am.

To plan your journey by public transport:

There is a visitors car park, including space for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Morton Hall

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

All visitors will be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Morton Hall has a family-friendly dress code which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing revealing clothing or anything with an offensive pattern or slogan.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Morton Hall. Each adult visitor will be allowed a small amount of cash to buy snacks in the visiting hall. You will have to leave most of your other items in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by Lincolnshire Action Trust. Family and friends can relax and get advice and support from the staff.

There are facilities for making drinks and warming up food, plus toilets and a baby changing area.

Telephone: 01522 666 819
Find out about call charges

Opening hours:

• Monday: 8:30am to 5pm
• Tuesday: 8:30am to 5pm
• Wednesday: 8:30am to 5pm
• Thursday: 8:30am to 8:30pm
• Friday: 8:30am to 5pm
• Saturday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
• Sunday: 9:30am to 8:30pm

Family days

Morton Hall holds 4 family days a year giving prisoners more time to spend time with their children in a relaxed setting.

Keep in touch with someone at Morton Hall

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Morton Hall.

Secure video calls

Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners are allowed their own basic mobile phones and can use these to make and receive calls. Some features, such as cameras, are not permitted.

Prisoners can also borrow phones from reception.

Email

Prisoners have access to an internet hub where they can browse websites and access personal email.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and number on the envelope.

If you do not know their number, contact Morton Hall.

All post, apart from legal letters, can be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption – for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

Items such as clothes and books can be sent in to prisoners or handed in during a visit. Contact Morton Hall for more information on what’s allowed.

Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.
 
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Make sure to include the person’s name and number on the parcel.

All parcels can be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Morton Hall

Morton Hall holds adult men who are subject to deportation and require secure conditions. Prisoners can access family contact, legal support and a range of activities. A Home Office team is based at the site providing a link with case workers.

On 20 July 2020, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service informed the Home Office of its intention to return Morton Hall to use as part of the prison estate. Over the next 12 months, HMPPS will invest in the site to create a category C male prison, which will provide almost 400 extra prison places.

HMPPS will work with staff, trade unions and the Home Office on transition plans and will provide further updates in due course.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Morton Hall has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Morton Hall, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Morton Hall gets an induction that lasts a couple of days. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training

In addition, they will meet with a member of Home Office staff.

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 400 men live at Morton Hall across a number of residential units. These are:

• Seacole (for new arrivals)
• Fry
• Windsor
• Sharman
• Johnson
• Torr

There is also a care and separation unit.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad range of learning opportunities, including classes in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).

Other course include:

• business studies
• information and communication technology (ICT)
• literacy and numeracy
• life skills such as preparation for work, budgeting and money management

There are additional vocational courses in barbering, catering, gardening and recycling as well as work-based learning in industrial workshops.

Language Line and local translators are used to assist prisoners.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Morton Hall. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.

Manager: Karen Head

Telephone: 01522 666 700
Fax: 01522 666 895
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Safer custody

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Morton Hall, you can leave a message on the safeguarding line. Messages are checked at least 4 times a day.

Telephone: 01522 666 885
Find out about call charges

In an emergency, call 01522 666 976 to talk to a member of staff.