IRC
Cat IRC
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Morton Hall IRC
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 9 December 2021
This final report covers the last 203 days of Morton Hall IRC's operation before its closure on 23 July 2021. The Board found the centre largely safe with professional staff and well-delivered healthcare, but noted concerns regarding slow lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and significant delays in bail releases. Staff managed the closure process exceptionally well, ensuring fair and humane treatment of detainees.
Positive Findings
The Board observed that Morton Hall was largely a safe environment for detainees with staff who acted in a professional and empathetic manner. Healthcare provision by Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust was well delivered. Management and staff conducted an open and transparent process with detainees during the centre's closure, which proceeded in a well-managed and orderly manner.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Significant delays in detainees being released from the centre even after a judge had awarded bail.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Covid-19 restrictions on well-being, faith and recreational facilities were not lifted at the same pace as restrictions in non-HMPPS IRCs or those in the wider community.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The £1 per hour rate of pay, which has remained unchanged since 2008, is derisory for paid activities such as work in the kitchens and cleaning accommodation units.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff worked hard to prevent violence and acted professionally and empathetically. Despite being anxious about their own jobs and future due to the centre's closure, staff maintained professionalism in managing the centre and caring for detainees.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision by Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust was well delivered, with detainees having access to the full suite of healthcare services. However, Covid-19 restrictions curtailed well-being facilities.
Regime & Daily Life
Covid-19 restrictions severely curtailed well-being, faith, and recreational facilities, limiting the quality of life for detainees. Restrictions were not lifted at the same pace as in non-HMPPS IRCs or the wider community, leading to frustrations, such as the multi-faith centre not reopening and outdoor sports not being allowed.
Recommendations (3)
Home Office: 3
Recommendation 1
We hope that, in the event of any future need for health pandemic (or similar) rules that the introduction and relaxation of rules in IRCs is kept in line with those in the wider community rather than moving at a different pace, as we found with football and communal worship in the centre.
Home Office
Regime
Recommendation 2
We recommend that the government gathers and publishes monthly data on the number of detainees for whom a judge has granted bail but who remain in detention together with information on the length of time they have remained in detention since the judge’s decision. This data should be used to understand and track delays in release from detention and inform the use of resources to reduce these delays.
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Following on from (2) we recommend that the government publish data on the full cost of keeping people in detention following bail release decisions, as well as other costs such as managing serious incidents arising from the frustration of those remaining in detention. Speeding up bail address checks could reduce these costs. Such an understanding of costs would help inform policy decisions to ensure the most effective use of resources in the best interests of detainees and the implementation of justice.
Home Office
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Morton Hall IRC
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.