HM Prison Morton Hall

{{Short description|Category C men's prison in Lincolnshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox prison | prison_name = HMP Morton Hall | image = [[File:IRC Morton Hall secure area.jpg|frameless]] | caption = | location = [[Morton Hall]], [[Lincolnshire]] | coordinates = | status = | classification = [[Prisoner security categories in the United Kingdom|Adult Male/Category C]] | capacity = | population = 392 | populationdate = October 2006 | opened = 1985 | closed = | former_name =Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre | managed_by = [[His Majesty's Prison Service|HM Prison Services]] | governor = Karen Head | website = {{HM prison|morton-hall|Morton Hall}} }} '''HM Prison Morton Hall''' is a [[Category C Prison|Category C]] men's prison in the village of [[Morton Hall]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morton Hall Prison |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/morton-hall-prison |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> The centre is operated by [[His Majesty's Prison Service]]. It was previously a women's prison and from 2011 to 2021, an [[Immigration Removal Centre]].

==History== Morton Hall was originally the site of an [[RAF]] base, which was converted into a prison and opened in 1985. It was expanded in 1996, and refitted to become a semi-open women's prison in 2001. Two ready to use units were opened in 2002, increasing overall capacity. From that time Morton Hall has been developing as a prison holding a high percentage of [[foreign national]]s.

In January 2004, Morton became the first prison in England (along with [[Kirkham (HM Prison)|HMP Kirkham]]) to trial the Intermittent Custody Scheme. The scheme saw some inmates held at Morton Hall from Monday to Friday (released at weekends), while another set of prisoners were held on Saturdays and Sundays (released during the week). The scheme was designed to allow prisoners on short sentences to remain in employment, independent housing and maintain family ties during their jail terms.<ref>{{cite news|title='Home and away' prison trial begins|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/jan/26/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation|work=[[guardian.co.uk]]|date=26 January 2004|accessdate=18 December 2008 | location=London | first=Eric | last=Allison}}</ref> The scheme was subsequently abandoned in November 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title='Weekend prison' scheme scrapped |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3752405.stm|work=[[bbc.co.uk]]|date=2 November 2006|access-date=18 December 2008}}</ref>

In May 2004, a report from the [[Prison Reform Trust]] called for more facilities and support for foreign prisoners held at Morton Hall. The Trust noted improvements at the jail, but stated that more resources and staff training were needed to improve the regime at Morton Hall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Foreign inmates 'need more help'|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/3752405.stm|work=bbc.co.uk|date=27 May 2004|access-date=18 December 2008}}</ref>

Morton Hall was recategorised as a closed women's prison in 2009.<ref name=belfast>{{cite news|title=Centre boosts UK detention capacity|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/centre-boosts-uk-detention-capacity-16006657.html|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=1 June 2011|accessdate=7 January 2012}}</ref> The prison held a high percentage of foreign nationals,<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnston |first=Philip |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567177/Britain-has-two-jails-for-foreign-inmates-only.html |title=Britain has two jails for foreign inmates only |newspaper=Telegraph |date=24 October 2007 |accessdate=7 January 2012}}</ref> and had a resettlement unit for prisoners coming to the end of their sentence who were settling in the UK.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

In 2011 Morton Hall closed and re-opened as an Immigration Removal Centre,<ref name=belfast/> holding adult males awaiting deportation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/morton-hall/ |title=Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre |publisher=Justice.gov.uk |date=4 October 2011 |accessdate=7 January 2012}}</ref> The centre was formally opened on 1 June 2011 by Immigration Minister [[Damian Green]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.build.co.uk/national_news.asp?newsid=127422 |title=Immigration Centre Opens In Lincolnshire : UK National News |publisher=Build.co.uk |date= |accessdate=7 January 2012}}</ref>

In April 2015 several detainees started refusing food, in solidarity with a [[hunger strike]] at [[Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre|Harmondsworth]] immigration detention centre.<ref>Chris Green, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/harmondsworth-asylum-seekers-hunger-strike-spreads-to-second-centre-10099111.html Harmondsworth: Asylum seekers' hunger strike spreads to second centre], ''[[The Independent]]'', 7 April 2015.</ref>

Morton Hall ceased operating as an Immigration Removal Centre in July 2021; in December that year it reverted to being a prison, and was designated for 'male foreign national offenders'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2021-09-04 |title=Morton Hall to reopen as prison for foreign nationals |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-58447958 |access-date=2023-03-07}}</ref> Lincolnshire's [[Police and crime commissioner|Police and Crime Commissioner]] confirmed that, "the intention is that the majority of inmates will move back to their place of origin (or be deported) on release."<ref name=":0" />

==Deaths in custody== {{Expand section|date=February 2019}} On 5 September 2014 [[Rubel Ahmed]], a 26-year-old detainee, died in controversial circumstances at Morton Hall, resulting in rioting and prompting calls for an independent inquiry.<ref name=Taylor>Diane Taylor, [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/07/morton-hall-immigration-detention-centre-death-rubel-ahmed Call for inquiry into death at Morton Hall immigration detention centre], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 7 September 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/20/drowned-restrained-shot-life-stories-migrants-case-studies|title=Drowned, restrained, shot: how these migrants died for a better life|first1=Holly|last1=Watt|first2=Diane|last2=Taylor|first3=Mark|last3=Rice-Oxley|date=20 June 2018|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref>

During the period 2016–2017, four people died in custody at Morton Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/20/fourth-death-at-lincoln-immigration-removal-centre-prompts-inquiry|title=Fourth death at Lincoln immigration removal centre prompts inquiry|first=Diane|last=Taylor|date=20 November 2017|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref>

===Attempted deportation of witnesses=== In April 2018, Home Secretary [[Amber Rudd]] was barred by the High Court from her attempt to deport a witness before he could give evidence to an inquest into the death of Carlington Spencer at Morton Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/28/amber-rudd-attempt-deport-immigration-witness-blocked-high-court|title=High court blocks Amber Rudd attempt to deport witness|first=Mark|last=Townsend|date=28 April 2018|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref>

In February 2019, it emerged that the Home Office intended to deport two other key witnesses in the inquest of Spencer's death, before they would be able to give testimony. They were due to give evidence in March 2019. The witnesses accused the Home Office of attempting to cover up the events leading to Spencer's death, by preventing their evidence from being heard in court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/home-office-deportation-immigration-detention-witness-jamaica-windrush-a8763611.html|title=Key witnesses to detainee death to be deported before they can testify|date=5 February 2019|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://w.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/world-news/20190204/man-facing-deportation-jamaica-gets-last-minute-reprieve|title=Man facing deportation to Jamaica gets last minute reprieve|date=4 February 2019|website=W.jamaica-gleaner.com|accessdate=5 February 2019}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/morton-hall/ Ministry of Justice pages on Morton Hall]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morton Hall (Hm Prison)}} [[Category:Category C prisons in England]] [[Category:Men's prisons]] [[Category:1985 establishments in England]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Lincolnshire]]