Nottingham Prison

Book and plan your visit to Nottingham prison

To visit someone in Nottingham Prison you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 24 hours in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit. Prisoners can have up to 3 visitors over the age of 10 at one time, plus any younger children.

There is a limit to the number of visits a person can have.

If the prisoner is on remand they can have 3 visits a week. If the prisoner has been convicted (they have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing) they can have up to 4 visits a month, depending on their behaviour level and privileges they have earned.

Contact Nottingham Prison 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 Nottingham Prison
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Nottingham is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Visits booking line: 0115 962 8980
Monday and Thursday, 1pm to 4pm
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to midday

Find out about call charges

Email: socialvisits.nottingham@justice.gov.uk

You can also book your next visit in person when you’re at the prison.

Visiting times:

• Monday: 2pm to 4.30pm
• Tuesday: 9am to 11.30am, 2pm to 4.30pm
• Wednesday: no visits
• Thursday: 9am to 11.30am, 2pm to 4.30pm
• Friday: 9am to 11am
• Saturday: 9am to 11.30am, 2pm to 4.30pm
• Sunday: 9am to 11.30am, 2pm to 4.30pm

How to book legal and professional visits

No legal visits currently taking place.

Getting to Nottingham Prison

Find Nottingham Prison on a map

The closest railway station is Nottingham which is around 4 miles from Nottingham Prison. From there you can take a bus or taxi.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is limited parking available onsite for visitors, including spaces at the front entrance for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Nottingham 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.

Book in at the visitors centre at least half an hour before your visit. The booking office opens at 8:30am and 1:30pm.

You must be at the prison gates no later than 10:30am for weekday morning visits and 3:30pm for afternoon visits. On weekend mornings it’s no later than 11am. If you’re later than these times, you will not be allowed to enter.

You may have your finger or thumb prints scanned as part of a security check. You may also have an iris scan. All visitors, apart from children, will have their photo taken.

All visitors will need to be given a rub-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Nottingham Prison has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no high-visibility clothing, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses, no offensive logos and no scarves, gloves or headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 in coins (notes are not allowed). The money can be used to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Nottingham Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

You can take in baby milk, nappies and wipes, but the milk must either be sealed in its original container or mixed up in front of visitors centre staff using water provided. All baby items must be in a clear plastic bag.

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 visitors centre run by The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT). It includes toilets and a children’s play area, and staff are available to offer support and advice to visitors.

The visitors centre is open every day from 8am to 4:30pm.

Telephone: 0115 962 8980
Monday and Thursday, 1pm to 4pm
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to midday
Find out about call charges
Email: socialvisits.nottingham@justice.gov.uk

There will be no refreshments available during your visit. The children’s play area will not be available to use.

Family days

There are currently no family days being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Nottingham Prison

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Nottingham Prison.

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.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their rooms and are able to make calls at any time during phone hours. They have to buy phone credits to do this. Phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always have to call you.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. 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.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Nottingham Prison using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Nottingham.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Nottingham Prison.

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

People in Nottingham Prison who are on enhanced behaviour levels are given a list of approved items that they can buy from a catalogue.

All prisoners must apply to have clothes brought into the prison. If approved, you can hand in prescription glasses and certain items of clothing to prison staff when you attend for your visit. Items can only be received by a designated officer in the visitors centre before your visit starts.

Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their 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.

Contact Nottingham visitors centre for more information on what’s allowed.

Life at Nottingham Prison

Nottingham Prison is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Nottingham Prison 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.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board.

Prisoners can also be trained by the Samaritans to be ‘listeners’ to help support people going through difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Nottingham Prison, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Nottingham Prison 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 1000 men live at Nottingham in a mixture of single and shared rooms.

Education and work

Men in Nottingham Prison can enrol in the prison college for education and vocational training or work in one of the prison industries or domestic roles. Nottingham also works with charities to provide reconditioned bikes. Prisoners who work in this area gain a qualification at the same time.

There are resettlement services that offer advice on housing, debt management and help with finding employment.

Nottingham also supports a number of local community projects.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Nottingham Prison

The Prison Advice and Care Trust offers support and advice to visitors. They can provide information on finance, jobs, health, drugs and alcohol, accommodation and family support workers.

Families and loved ones can be involved in a prisoners release planning through the ‘Next Steps’ suite in the visitors centre.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a prisoner at Nottingham prison, call the safer custody hotline.

Telephone: 0115 872 4464
24 hour answering machine
Find out about call charges

Leave a message giving as many details as possible including the prisoners name, prisoner number and what wing they are located on if you know it. If you wish, you can leave your own details and a contact number so the prison can give you feedback, if appropriate.

You can also read more information about safer custody concerns on the Prisoners Families website.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Nottingham prison.

Inspection report and action plan

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Nottingham in response to independent inspections.

Contact Nottingham Prison

Governor: Paul Yates

Telephone: 0115 872 4000
Fax: 0115 872 4001
Find out about call charges

Follow Nottingham Prison on Twitter

Address

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