Whatton Prison
Whatton is a prison in Nottingham for men convicted of a sex offence.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Whatton
To visit someone in Whatton you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
You can book at least 7 days in advance and at least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Whatton.
Contact Whatton 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 Whatton
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can book visits by telephone.
Booking line: 01949 803 200
The booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to midday and 1pm to 5pm.
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 11:30am (legals only), and 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 9:15am to 11:15am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Professional visits can be booked by email. There is no telephone booking available. Requests for booking legal/professional visits will be responded to within two working days.
- face to face visit: legalvisits.whatton@justice.gov.uk
- video visits: OMU.whatton@justice.gov.uk
Video call times
- Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 4.30pm
- Bank holidays: no visits
Getting to Whatton
The postcode to use with a sat nav is NG13 9FQ.
There are 2 car parks for staff and visitors and some disabled spaces behind the visitor centre.
To plan your journey by public transport:
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use National Rail Enquiries to either Nottingham Midland or Nottingham and Grantham train station. It’s about 12 miles to the prison from each. There is a closer train station at Aslockton but it is not a regular service so check before travel.
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use Traveline for local bus times to get to Bingham. A taxi service operated from there to the prison which is 2 miles away.
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use National Express to get a coach to Broadmarsh or Grantham stations which are about 12 miles away from the prison.
Entering Whatton
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors (including children) will be given a pat-down search. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Whatton has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £25 in coins to purchase refreshments. Cards are can also be used. Notes are no longer accepted.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Whatton. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitor centre run by a community service.
There are a small selection of refreshments available to purchase during your visit. Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £25 in coins. Cards can also be used to make purchases. Notes are no longer accepted.
There is a children’s play area available to use during visits.
Wheelchairs are available in the prison and there is wheelchair access to both the visitor centre and the prison.
Family days
Family visits are offered in addition to the normal visit allowances. They are held at least 3 times a year during key school holidays. Only visitors on the prisoners approved list can attend.
All fathers (regardless of their visit allowance status) can apply to take part, but recent behaviour is considered in the application process.
Keep in touch with someone at Whatton
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Whatton.
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 calls
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family whenever they are out of their cell. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Whatton using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Whatton.
Letters
You can write at any time. Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope. If you do not know their prison number, contact Whatton.
All post apart from legal letters will 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
This will allow you to send money by post.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners in Whatton are given a list of approved items that they can buy. No parcels or gifts are accepted.
Friends and families of prisoners can bring books for prisoners when they visit. You can also send books directly to 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.
Life at Whatton
Whatton is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
There are a range of opportunities for prisoners to recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Whatton 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.
There is also a ‘listener’ scheme for prisoners who are considered to be at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner first arrives at Whatton, they will be able to contact a family member by phone.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs. Urgent concerns will be identified and appropriate support offered and a care plan put in place.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Whatton gets an induction that lasts about a week. 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
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 800 prisoners live at Whatton. There are 3 main wings, A, B and C, which are mostly single cells.
Education and work
There is a wide range of learning and skill-based activities, including general education, vocational training, industrial workshops, manufacturing, farming and gardening.
Prisoners can also take courses in Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it (CALM) and Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS).
There are also a large range of offending behaviour programmes, including sex offender treatment programmes.
Temporary release
It is unlikely for the prisoners at Whatton to get release on temporary licence.
Organisations Whatton works with
Whatton gets help and support from the Carers Federation, Age UK, New Bridge, Prisoner Penfriends, SSAFA the Shannon Trust and PACT.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head Operations email socialvisits.whatton@justice.gov.uk.
To contact PACT at Whatton email Whatton@prisonadvice.org.uk.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01949 803 200 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 | 01949 803 484 | 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 Whatton.
Contact Whatton
Governor: Caroline Vine
Telephone: 01949 803 200
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (answerphone out of hours)
Fax: 01949 803 201
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Whatton
New Lane
Whatton
Nottingham
NG13 9FQ
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Updates to this page
Published 18 December 2019Last updated 13 June 2024 + show all updates
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Updated legal/professional visits booking information.
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Updated rules around purchases during visits: notes are no longer accepted.
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Updated visiting information
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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: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Visits update
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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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 visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated link
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Prison visits update.
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First published.