HMP Nottingham

A new prison on an old site

In shortA large inner-city category B reception and resettlement prison serving Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire courts, rebuilt in 2010, with churn so high the whole population changes every six to nine weeks.

• Receptions4,320 a yearAround 360 a month in 2024 (HMIP)
• Releases2,184 a yearAround 182 a month
• Certified normal accommodation719Capacity is set at 950, mostly shared cells
• On remand or awaiting sentence54%18.3% were on recall

HMP Nottingham is an inner-city category B reception and resettlement prison for men in the Sherwood area of the city, serving the courts of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The IMB describes seven wings of modern design, one for vulnerable prisoners and one for early days in custody, a care and separation unit with 12 spaces, separate education and workshop buildings, and a large sports hall and gym.

Full inspection, May 2024

In shortRespect was reasonably good, safety and preparation for release not sufficiently good and purposeful activity poor, in a fragile prison under considerable strain.

• SafetyNot sufficiently good
• RespectReasonably good
• Purposeful activityPoorHad fallen
• Preparation for releaseNot sufficiently good
• Prisoners held924

HMIP's full inspection took place from 13 to 24 May 2024 and the report was published on 19 August 2024. The Chief Inspector described a prison coping with considerable strain, with stability provided by an experienced governor and his team.

The Chief Inspector concluded it was a fragile institution carrying a lot of risk within a constantly churning population.

• Violence was high, particularly between prisoners and partly fuelled by drugs
• Many prisoners were locked in cells for 22 hours a day, and for 23 hours on days when staff were training
• About 40% of prisoners were unemployed and unlocked for only two hours a day, and many classrooms stood empty despite very high need, because activity allocation was inefficient
• Very high levels of self-harm with no local action plan, and a complex population with many mental health needs (some of the most unwell waiting for hospital transfer were held in segregation)
• Early release arrangements left preparation for release chaotic and rushed, with about a quarter of sentenced prisoners released homeless in the previous year
• Public protection weaknesses including inadequate phone monitoring
• Ofsted rated education, skills and work as inadequate
• Staff relationships were mostly good, though inspectors received complaints about some officers, and capable middle leaders were supporting many inexperienced officers

Review of progress, February 2025

In shortSelf-harm and violence had increased, but key work and leadership oversight improved and the share of officers with under two years' experience fell from nearly 40% to nearly a quarter.

• Officers under two years' experience, May 2024Closer to 40%
• Officers under two years' experience, Feb 2025Nearly a quarterHMIP review
• IMB: under two years' service36.5% to 25%February 2024 to February 2025
• IMB: under three years' service49.5% to 43%February 2024 to February 2025

HMIP returned on 24 to 26 February 2025 and published its review on 7 April 2025. It found that self-harm and violence had increased since the full inspection and recorded that a homicide had occurred shortly after it.

Staff-prisoner relationships had been a focus: key work had increased and leadership oversight improved. Leaders were prioritising upskilling staff to produce a more effective and confident workforce.

What this means for an officer

In shortThe prison is strained but staffed: 301 officers against a target of 300, with national pay and no market supplement.

• Band 3 to 5 staffing301 FTEBand 3 to 5 staffing against a target of 300 at 30 June 2026: essentially at target
• Use of forceUp 22%Year on year (IMB)
• Assaults on staff20From three prisoners with severe mental health problems (IMB)

The IMB also says the prison has a well-managed, proactive safety team. Prisoners continue to complain about property going missing on transfer, and time out of cell remains limited for those without work or education.

HMPPS workforce statistics sit alongside a prison that inspectors describe as strained but staffed. To understand the daily structure of local prison work, see prison officer shift patterns.

• GOV.UK gives the address as Perry Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3AG, with Nottingham the nearest station about four miles away and onward buses or taxis; parking is limited
• There is no establishment-specific recruitment page, so use the national route in how to become a prison officer
• Nottingham is in the national pay zone with no market supplement on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026); see prison officer pay bands