Guidance
Whatton Prison
Whatton is a prison in Nottingham for men convicted of a sex offence.
Prison visits are temporarily suspended following instructions for people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We will update here as soon as this changes. You can also follow @HMPPS on Twitter and read a rolling update page.
There are a number of other ways to contact someone in prison if you are unable to visit them. You can:
- leave a voice message using the Prison Voicemail Service
- send them an email using the email a prisoner service
- write to them
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
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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 person 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.
If you have any problems booking online, email: whatton@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Visiting times:
- Monday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Thursday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Friday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday: 9am to 11:30pm, 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 9am to 11:30pm, 2pm to 4pm
There are no visits on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or bank holidays.
How to book legal and professional visits
Telephone: 01949 803 685 or 01949 803 686
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Monday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Thursday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Friday: 9am to 11.30am, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
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 and older need to bring two or more of the following types of ID. One must have the address that corresponds to the visiting order. The other must have an up-to-date photo of the visitor. One must also contain the visitor’s date of birth.
Acceptable forms of ID are:
- passport (UK or foreign)
- driving licence with photograph
- benefit book
- senior citizen’s public transport pass with photo
- annual public transport season ticket (with photo card)
- employer ID card (if it shows the name and photo of the visitor and the employer)
- trade union or student union card with photo
- European Community identity card
- cheque book with debit/credit card
- young person’s proof of age card
- household bills
- CitizenCard
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 notes or coins. The money can be used to buy food and drink in the visitor centre.
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 which has a small play area for children, snacks and drinks while offering support and information.
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 resident’s 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 resident during their time at Whatton.
Phone calls
Residents do not have phones in their rooms 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 resident, 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 also send:
- postal orders
- cheques
- cash
Postal orders and cheques should be made payable to ‘The Governor’ and include the resident’s name and prison number on the back.
Gifts and parcels
Men in Whatton are given a list of approved items that they can buy. No parcels or gift are accepted, although visitors can bring books for residents when they visit.
Life at Whatton
Whatton is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.
There are a range of opportunities for residents to recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Whatton has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
All safeguarding processes are overseen by Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
There is also a ‘listener’ scheme for residents who are considered to be at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Arrival and first night
When a resident 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 person 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 men live at Whatton. There are 3 main wings, A, B and C, which are mostly single rooms.
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.
Residents 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 residents 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 and the Shannon Trust.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Whatton. If you can’t resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Contact Whatton
Governor: Lynn Saunders
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
Safer custody hotline
Whatton has a safer custody hotline to call or email if you are worried about the health or safety of a resident.
Email: safercustodywhatton@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 01949 803 484
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm (answerphone out of hours)
Find out about call charges
If nobody is in the office, please leave as much information as possible and a telephone number we can call you back on.
If you need to speak to someone in an emergency, call and ask to speak to the orderly officer.
Emergency telephone: 01949 803 200
Find out about call charges
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Published 18 December 2019
Last updated 5 May 2020 + show all updates
Last updated 5 May 2020 + show all updates
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Updated link
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Prison visits update.
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First published.