Morton Hall Prison
Morton Hall is a prison in Swinderby, near Lincoln, for men aged 18 and over.
Applies to England and Wales
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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:
- travel to Morton Hall prison
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 303 0649
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.
Visiting times:
- Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 2pm to 4pm
Visits must be 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, 8:45am to 11:15am
- 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 your own risk).
Official visitors include, 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.
Telephone translation is not available to legal visitors and if it is required it should be in person or booked using video link.
Morton Hall has two rooms available to book for POM to COM’s, Courts, and Solicitors for use with Video Link.
Booked via the OMU Functional Mailbox: omu.mortonhall@justice.gov.uk.
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
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, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
- Thursday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
- Saturday, 1:30pm to 4:15pm
- 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.
Phone
All cells have in-cell telephony which allows prisoners to make phone calls to pre-approved numbers.
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.
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:
- manufacturing operations
- gardens and horticulture
- barbering
- catering and hospitality
- painting and decorating
- cleaning
- peer mentoring
- repair skills
- waste management
Language Line and local translators are used to assist prisoners.
Support for family and friends
You can ask to speak to the Head of Family services during your visit. You can share feedback about your visiting experience with anyone in this team. 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
In an emergency
Call 01522 666 976 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| 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 any other problem contact Morton Hall.
Contact Morton Hall
Governor: Karen Head
Telephone: 01522 666 700
Fax: 01522 666 895
Address
Morton Hall
Eagle Road
Swinderby
Lincoln
LN6 9PT
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Updates to this page
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Updated booking line opening times for family and friends visits, now Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updates to visiting times for family and friends and legal visitors.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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visit update
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Updated visit info
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updated visit info
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated: HMP Morton Hall visiting times and visiting procedure changes in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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First published.