Visiting detainees at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre (IRC)¶

Please note, the following info is just for guidance, it is possible that you will get to the centre and there will be some other rule introduced or the guards on the day might do things a bit differently. If there is a significant change, please let others in the group know.

First visit¶

Contact detainee and introduce yourself. (Also see Guide to Phoning Detainees)
Arrange to visit on a particular day with detainee.

Up to one week before (optional but recommended at busy times)¶

Book visit by calling 01522 666819 (open M-F, 9.30-11.30).
You will need the detainee’s full name and DOB/detainee number. These should have been given to you as part of the referral but you could contact the detainee to get it.

The day before¶

If possible, call the detainee before the visit to make sure that they haven’t been moved and make sure you have their full name, their detainee number (e.g. A1234AC) and/or their date of birth.

On the day¶

You will need to take:
Detainees info – full name, detainee no./date of birth
photo ID (passport, driving licence, ARC)
proof of address (phone bill, bank statement, etc. Must clearly show your full name and UK postal address. May not be needed after first visit)
phone number (for their records)
a £1 coin to leave your things in a locker (personal possessions cannot be taken into the visiting area)

Also see separate information on travel¶

At the centre: It takes quite a while to actually get to see the person you are visiting.

First you have to turn right and head to the far end of the car park to register to visit in a little house that’s separate from the main prison (white building).

When you arrive, it’s a good idea to call the detainee, tell them that you’re there and that they should go to wait by “the kitchen gate” as this will make it easier (and quicker) for a guard to find them to bring them to the visit hall.

You have to give the surname of the person you’re visiting and show photo ID and proof of address as well as giving a phone number for their records. You will also need their detainee number (e.g. A1234AC) and/or their date of birth. They will photocopy the ID docs that you show them and ask you to fill in a form with your personal details and the detainee’s name.

They give you a visitor’s pass/the form which you need to take with your ID and proof of address to the guard at the main gate.

You are then escorted to a room where you can put your personal belongings in a locker, are patted down, go through a metal detector and, if you’re male, you get a visitor’s wrist band put on and a UV date stamp. You’re then escorted to the visitors room and need to wait for the detainee to be brought in. Occasionally, there is a sniffer dog that will check visitors over before they are allowed into the visitors room.

The visitors room is a fairly pleasant room with a kids play area, coffee and tea facilities (didn’t find out whether they were for general use or not), big windows, etc. Make sure you don’t sit on the red seat at your table though because that’s where the detainee has to sit!

Social visits¶

Monday
13.45-15.45

Tuesday
13.45-15.45
18.00-20.15

Wednesday
13.45-15.45

Thursday
13.45-20.15

Friday
13.45-15.45

Saturday
13.45-15.45

Sunday
13.45-15.45

Notes¶

Up to 3 people can visit one detainee.

Visiting is not possible on Christmas or Boxing day.
Contact information
Morton Hall immigration removal centre
Swinderby
Lincolnshire
LN6 9PT

Phone: 01522 666700
Fax: 01522 666850
Management information
Run by: HM Prison Service.
HM Prison Service manager: Jamie Bennett.
UK Border Agency manager: Lee Beach.
Bed spaces: 392 single rooms for male detainees.