HMP Whatton, HMIP Inspections

The prison was given a full inspection in January 2024, the full report can be read on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website, just follow the links below. In their latest report the inspectors said:

HMP Whatton is a category C training prison in Nottinghamshire and a national specialist resource for men convicted of sexual offences, run by HM Prison and Probation Service, holding 848 prisoners against an operational capacity of 856. Inspectors rated safety improved to Good, respect reasonably good, unchanged, purposeful activity declined to not sufficiently good, and preparation for release improved to reasonably good.

Inspectors found Whatton continuing to operate effectively as a national resource supporting prisoners in reducing risk and preparing for release, with 90% of new arrivals saying they were treated well and 84% saying staff treated them respectfully. Safeguarding was generally good, with good sports and PE facilities, strong social care arrangements including peer social care advocates, and multi-faith chaplaincy provision, while a governor 18 months into post was actively tackling disparities in Black prisoners’ experiences flagged at previous inspections.

Inspectors nonetheless raised six priority concerns, including an overly punitive approach to behaviour management driving excessive use of cellular confinement, critically substandard conditions on one wing with cramped, poorly sanitised cells and black mould, and medication distribution practices fuelling bullying and illicit trading, with only 40% finding access easy. Years-long waits for accredited offending behaviour programmes persisted due to staff shortages, self-harm was higher than comparator sex-offender prisons and rising, only around a fifth felt unsafe, and just 28% felt complaints were handled fairly, down from 48% in 2016.

Charlie Taylor
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
February 2024

HMP Whatton

To read the full reports, go to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website or follow the links below: