Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Morton Hall
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 9 May 2023
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national men, has transitioned from an IRC during its first reporting year (Dec 2021-Dec 2022). It is a safe and humane establishment, effectively meeting health and wellbeing needs, despite operating with an evolving regime and a gradually increasing population. Key challenges include issues with Home Office processing for foreign national prisoners, regime consistency, and ensuring sufficient purposeful activity, all of which the Board highlights in its recommendations.
Positive Findings
Morton Hall is a safe place with good officer-prisoner relationships and a welcoming atmosphere. Health and wellbeing needs are well met through screening and accessible services, supported by a refurbished gymnasium. Prisoners generally prefer Morton Hall to previous prisons, praising staff attitudes. The visitors' centre is friendly and supportive, run by Lincolnshire Action Trust. The Board appreciates the support and frankness from governors and staff.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Many prisoners eligible for Early Removal Scheme (ERS) do not leave at the earliest opportunity, indeed many arrive at Morton Hall well into the nine to 12-month period within which they could have been deported.
Resettlement/Release
Many prisoners who are held under Immigration Act powers post-sentence (rule IS91) do not receive timely notification from the Home Office.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The planned slow increase – and more so the actual rate – in the prisoner population worked to overall advantage, given the frequent adjustments to the regime (over and above those of the Covid requirements).
Regime/Time Out of Cell
In consequence, the limited purposeful activity opportunities for prisoners for the majority of the reporting year.
Resettlement/Release
The arrangements for identifying and transferring foreign national prisoners from other prisons, given the significant gap between the planned and actual roll.
Other
To improve the systems for interprison property transfer.
Food/Catering
To consider increasing the daily food cost allowance, given levels of food cost inflation and the reliance on carbohydrates.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Extending the contract for librarian services to provide absence relief cover, avoiding the need to close the library and rely on the trolley service.
Food/Catering
Reducing the rate of returns for canteen goods and in particular ensuring a satisfactory quality of food items, notably cheese and fresh fruit, and ensuring that prisoner returns are refunded promptly.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Using the opportunity of the spring 2023 reprofile to improve prisoners’ work ethic and general approach to work by ensuring they report for work on time.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Tightening up and/or amending the processes for roll reconciliation so that prisoners can take part in planned activities on time.
Board Commentary
Staffing
A majority of former IRC staff and governor grades transferred to Morton Hall, joined by new officers and OSGs. Officer vacancies exist, though they have not caused operational difficulties across the prison, but staffing levels are below profiled. Around 15% of officers are routinely on detached duties assisting other prisons, impacting the effectiveness of planned work. Key working sessions cover about 50% of prisoners, fortnightly, placing Morton Hall in the top 10% compared to other prisons.
Healthcare
Healthcare is provided by Nottingham Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as a seven-day, 24-hour service, offering primary care and specialist nurse-led clinics, as well as visiting sessions from psychiatry, optical, podiatry, and dentistry. The prisoner population is considered relatively healthy due to transfer criteria. The mental health team faces vacancies, with the caseload managed by a clinical matron and support from a visiting psychiatrist.
Regime & Daily Life
Morton Hall is in transition from an IRC to a prison culture, still progressing towards an established role and regime. The initial slow increase in prisoner numbers, and frequent regime adjustments, limited purposeful activity for much of the reporting year. Prisoners and staff alike expressed frustration over the unsettled regime, despite the overall positive sentiment towards the prison.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 1 | — | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | — | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 2 | — | |
| Equality/Diversity | 2 | — | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | — | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 3 | — | |
| Incentives and earned privileges | 0 | — | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 2 | — | |
| 1 | — | ||
| Miscellaneous, including complaints | 10 | — | |
| Pin Phones | 1 | — | |
| Property related to Morton Hall | 7 | — | |
| Property related to previous prison | 10 | — | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 2 | — | |
| Resettlement | 1 | — | |
| Segregation | 0 | — | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates | 4 | — | |
| Sentence related - immigration | 8 | — | |
| Sentence related - recategorisation | 3 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 9 | — | |
| Transfers | 1 | — |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 4
Recommendation 1
that many prisoners eligible for ERS do not leave at the earliest opportunity, indeed many arrive at Morton Hall well into the nine to 12-month period within which they could have been deported (see paragraphs 3.2.5, 7.3.3)
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 1
whether the planned slow increase – and more so the actual rate – in the prisoner population worked to overall advantage, given the frequent adjustments to the regime (over and above those of the Covid requirements) (see paragraph 3.1.2)
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 1
extending the contract for librarian services to provide absence relief cover, avoiding the need to close the library and rely on the trolley service (see paragraph 7.1.3)
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 2
that many prisoners who are held under Immigration Act powers post-sentence (rule IS91) do not receive timely notification from the HO (see paragraphs 3.2.5, 7.3.4 ).
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
in consequence, the limited purposeful activity opportunities for prisoners for the majority of the reporting year (see paragraphs 3.2.4, 7.2.1)
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 2
reducing the rate of returns for canteen goods and in particular ensuring a satisfactory quality of food items, notably cheese and fresh fruit, and ensuring that prisoner returns are refunded promptly (see paragraph 5.1.8)
Governor / Director
Food
Recommendation 3
the arrangements for identifying and transferring foreign national prisoners from other prisons, given the significant gap between the planned and actual roll (see paragraphs 3.1.2, 7.3.1)
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
using the opportunity of the spring 2023 reprofile to improve prisoners’ work ethic and general approach to work by ensuring they report for work on time (see paragraph 3.2.4)
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 4
to improve the systems for interprison property transfer (see paragraph 5.8.1)
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
tightening up and/or amending the processes for roll reconciliation so that prisoners can take part in planned activities on time (see paragraph 6.5.4).
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 5
to consider increasing the daily food cost allowance, given levels of food cost inflation and the reliance on carbohydrates (see paragraph 5.1.2).
HMPPS
Food
Other IMB Reports for Morton Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
30 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 2
Release: 2
28 Oct 2019
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.