Whatton Prison
Whatton is a prison in Nottingham for men convicted of a sex offence.
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Book and plan your visit to Whatton
Prison social visits are temporarily suspended at Whatton following national lockdown. We will update here as soon as this changes. There may be the opportunity for visits under exceptional compassionate reasons which should be agreed in advance with the prison prior to travel.
Find out more about visiting someone in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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
- Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list. Read more about how it works
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
Keep in touch with someone at Whatton
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a resident during their time at Whatton.
Secure video calls
Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.
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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Last updated 21 December 2020 + show all updates
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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.