HMP Nottingham

What we found

The experienced and capable governor and his team were providing stability but the prison was under strain from constant pressure to accommodate new arrivals, move sentenced prisoners on and operate the early release scheme (ESCL).

There were high levels of violence, particularly assaults between prisoners, illicit drugs were too easily available and self-harm remained high. Many prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 hours a day, and on staff training days, men spent 23 hours behind doors without a shower. Despite high levels of need, education classrooms were unoccupied. Public protection arrangements remained weak.

Points to note: The complex population included some mentally unwell prisoners waiting for transfer to a secure hospital. Despite the segregation team’s best efforts, they were held in wholly unsuitable conditions. A quarter of prisoners on the ESCL scheme were homeless, resulting in inevitable recalls.