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)
Source · IMB Annual Report
Morton Hall
AI-generated report summary 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.
Year: 2022
Published: 9 May 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 310
Recommendations: 11
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 38 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 34 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 17 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 6 | — |
| Use of force | 33 | — |
| Drug finds | 0 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryMorton 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
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.
Many prisoners who are held under Immigration Act powers post-sentence (rule IS91) do not receive timely notification from the Home Office.
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).
In consequence, the limited purposeful activity opportunities for prisoners for the majority of the reporting year.
The arrangements for identifying and transferring foreign national prisoners from other prisons, given the significant gap between the planned and actual roll.
To improve the systems for interprison property transfer.
To consider increasing the daily food cost allowance, given levels of food cost inflation and the reliance on carbohydrates.
Extending the contract for librarian services to provide absence relief cover, avoiding the need to close the library and rely on the trolley service.
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.
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.
Tightening up and/or amending the processes for roll reconciliation so that prisoners can take part in planned activities on time.
Recommendations
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)
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)
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 ).
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)
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)
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)
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)
Recommendation 4
to improve the systems for interprison property transfer (see paragraph 5.8.1)
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).
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).
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 2
· Release 2
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 3
Individual at Morton Hall · Self-inflicted
Other reports for Morton Hall
Population 346
· Self-harm 115
· Concerns
Population 351
· Self-harm 66
· Concerns
Population 333
· Self-harm 52
· Concerns