Morton Hall Prison

Book and plan your visit to Morton Hall

To visit someone in Morton Hall you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Morton Hall.

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:

• Traveltravel to Morton Hall prison
• Somewheresomewhere to stay overnight
• Mealsmeals

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online, by email to hmppsvisitsbooking@justice.gov.uk or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 0300 303 0649
Find out about call charges

The booking line is open:

• Monday,open WednesdayMonday and Friday: midday to 5pm
• TuesdayFriday, and10am Thursday: 9am to 5pm

3pm.

Visiting times:

• Tuesday:Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
• Thursday:Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday:Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday:Sunday, 2pm to 4pm

Visits must booked at least 48 hours in advance. You must arrive at least 30mins before the end of the session to be allowed your visit. Latecomers should report directly to the main gate staff.

How to book legal and professional visits

Legal visits can be booked by telephone or email to hmppsvisitbooking@justice.gov.uk.

Booking line: 0300 303 0649
Find out about call charges

Visiting times

• Tuesday:Tuesday, 8:45am to 11:15am
• Thursday:Thursday, 8:45am to 11:15am

All Official Visitors must go straight to the front gate with their ID. Valuables and prohibited items may be left in the lockers in the front gatehouse or in their vehicle (at their own risk)

Includes solicitors, barristers, social workers, offender managers and probation.

Legal visitors may be allowed to visit several prisoners during their visit; however prisoners will be seen individually.

Morton Hall has two rooms available to book for POM to COM’s, Courts, and Solicitors VCP

Visit times are: 9am to 12:15pm and 1:45pm to 4:30pm

Time slots are 1 hour, unless requested otherwise.

Booked by email to omu.mortonhall@justice.gov.uk.

Getting to Morton Hall

Find HMP Morton Hall on a map

HMP Morton Hall is located the village of Swinderby, near Lincoln. The nearest train station is in Swinderby which is roughly a 15 minute walk to the prison. Other nearby stations are Newark Northgate (9 miles away) or Lincoln (12 miles away).

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

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 HMP Morton Hall. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

• All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
• You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
• Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit or by emailing resettlement.mortonhall@justice.gov.uk

There are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Morton Hall. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats.

Family days

HMP Morton Hall run 12 family visits a year alongside Lincolnshire Action Trust. These are organised and booked by the Prison by application from the Prisoner.

Visits Centre

The Visits Centre is open:

• Tuesday:Tuesday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Thursday:Thursday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Saturday:Saturday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
• Sunday:Sunday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm

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

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

Phone

All cells have in-cell telephony which allows prisoners to make phone calls to pre-approved numbers.

Email

Email a prisoner is a service which allows families to send an email to someone inside the majority of UK prisons.

The emails are printed out and delivered along with other post on a daily basis. The cost of this is just 40p. The website below gives more information about the service, how to sign up and other details. Prisoners can then send you a reply back.

Visit the Email a prisoner site

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

Gifts and parcels

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

HMP Morton Hall is a prison for adult men in Lincolnshire. It holds 353 prisoners in Category C conditions, with 3 to 33 months left to serve.

• Fry
• Windsor
• Sharman
• Johnson
• Torr

There is also a care and separation unit.

Security and safeguarding

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

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.

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

For the safeguarding team, call 01522 666 885. This has an answerphone and is monitored three times a day.

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 prisoner 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.

Education, Skills and work activity

Prisoners have access to a broad range of learning opportunities, including vocational courses to improve personal growth, wellbeing and work related skills, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), ICT, functional Maths and English. We have a range of work related activity that is aimed at preparing for employment upon release, including:

• Manufacturingmanufacturing operations
• Gardensgardens and horticulture
• Barberingbarbering
• Cateringcatering and hospitality
• Paintingpainting and decorating
• Cleaningcleaning
• Peerpeer mentoring
• Repairrepair skills
• Wastewaste management

Language Line and local translators are used to assist prisoners.

Support for family and friends

The Head of Family services is Harriet Fuller, both her and the team welcome feedback during visits. Visitor satisfaction surveys will be completed twice a year and the team will look to engage with prisoners and their visitors to make improvements to services.

Lincolnshire Action Trust is the family services provider and they can give advice and support to families.

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01522 666 885	Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline	0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)	This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Prisoners’ Families Helpline	0808 808 2003	The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact	0300 060 6699	If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and complaints

If you have aany other problem contact Morton Hall.

Contact Morton Hall

Governor: Karen Head

Telephone: 01522 666 700

Fax: 01522 666 895

Address

See map

The Lead for Family services is the Head of Reducing Reoffending and the team welcome feedback during visits. Visitor satisfaction surveys will be completed twice a year and the team will look to engage with prisoners and their visitors to make improvements to services.