Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre

IRC Morton Hall is an Immigration Removal Centre located in the village of Morton Hall (near Lincoln) in Lincolnshire, England. The centre is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and was previously a women's prison.

HMIRC Morton Hall
LocationMorton Hall, Lincolnshire
Security classImmigration Removal Centre
Population392 (as of October 2006)
Opened1985
Managed byHM Prison Services
GovernorKaren Head
WebsiteMorton Hall at justice.gov.uk

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 nationals.

In January 2004, Morton became the first prison in England (along with 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.[1] The scheme was subsequently abandoned in November 2006.[2]

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.[3]

Morton Hall was recategorised as a closed women's prison in 2009.[4] The prison held a high percentage of foreign nationals,[5] and had a resettlement unit for prisoners coming to the end of their sentence who were settling in the UK.

In 2011 Morton Hall closed and re-opened as an Immigration Removal Centre,[4] holding adult males awaiting deportation.[6] The centre was formally opened on 1 June 2011 by Immigration Minister Damian Green.[7]

In April 2015 several detainees started refusing food, in solidarity with a hunger strike at Harmondsworth immigration detention centre.[8]

Deaths in custody

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.[9][10]

During the period 2016-2017, four people died in custody at Morton Hall.[11]

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.[12]

In February 2019, it emerged that the Home Office intended to deport, in February 2019, two other key witnesses in the inquest the death 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.[13][14]

References
  1. Allison, Eric (26 January 2004). "'Home and away' prison trial begins". guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  2. "'Weekend prison' scheme scrapped". bbc.co.uk. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  3. "Foreign inmates 'need more help'". bbc.co.uk. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  4. "Centre boosts UK detention capacity". Belfast Telegraph. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  5. Johnston, Philip (24 October 2007). "Britain has two jails for foreign inmates only". Telegraph. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  6. "Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre". Justice.gov.uk. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  7. "Immigration Centre Opens In Lincolnshire : UK National News". Build.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  8. Chris Green, Harmondsworth: Asylum seekers' hunger strike spreads to second centre, The Independent, 7 April 2015.
  9. Diane Taylor, Call for inquiry into death at Morton Hall immigration detention centre, The Guardian, 7 September 2014.
  10. Watt, Holly; Taylor, Diane; Rice-Oxley, Mark (20 June 2018). "Drowned, restrained, shot: how these migrants died for a better life". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. Taylor, Diane (20 November 2017). "Fourth death at Lincoln immigration removal centre prompts inquiry". Theguardian.com.
  12. Townsend, Mark (28 April 2018). "High court blocks Amber Rudd attempt to deport witness". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  13. "Key witnesses to detainee death to be deported before they can testify". The Independent. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  14. "Man facing deportation to Jamaica gets last minute reprieve". W.jamaica-gleaner.com. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

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