hmp visit booking ranby

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• Crime, justice and law
• Prisons and probation

Ranby Prison

Ranby is a men’s prison in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey .

Book and plan your visit to Ranby

To visit someone in Ranby you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There is a quiet visits area available for anyone who has difficulties coping with crowds or noise or anyone with a hearing difficulty. You can request a table in this area when you book your visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a person can have. You can check this with Ranby.

Contact Ranby 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 Ranby
• somewhere to stay overnight

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Booking line: 01777 862 107 The booking line is open:

• Monday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm
• Friday: 9am to 12pm

Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Monday and Friday: 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 11am

Ranby Visitors Centre is run by Prison Staff and the PACT team.

How to book legal and professional visits

To book a face to face legal visit please email: [email protected] .

• Tuesday and Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm

From 5 March onwards Legal/ Professional visits will run on the below days

• Tuesday: 9am to 11am
• Thursday: 9am to 11am

Getting to Ranby

Find Ranby on a map

The closest railway station is in Retford ,from there you can get a taxi or take the bus to HMP Ranby on the A620 Retford to Worksop Rd.

To plan your journey by public transport use:

• National Rail Enquiries
• Traveline for local bus times

There is a free visitors car park.

There is also a disabled visitors car park.

Entering Ranby

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 .

• All visitors will need to be searches, including children
• You may also be searched by security dogs
• There are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Ranby. You will have to leave any personal belongings in Visits Centre lockers or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats
• Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting

If you are bringing small children for your visit you are allowed to take in:

• one empty bottle or drinking cup
• one sealed carton of milk (no powder)
• one bottle of breast milk (Ranby can also support breastfeeding mothers)
• sealed jars of baby food

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.

HMP Ranby operates a family orientated visits policy. The majority of our visitors are accompanied by children and we want to foster a decent, safe and relaxed family environment for all our visitors.

The following items of clothing should not be worn:

Hats, scarves or head coverings which are not worn on religious grounds, jackets or coats, hoodies or gloves, inappropriately damaged clothing, metal hair accessories, steel toe capped shoes/boots or cycle/ motorcycle shoes, non-prescription glasses i.e. sunglasses, see-through / revealing clothing, ripped Jeans, items of clothing that display offensive abusive or insulting words or gestures, mini or very short skirts/dresses unless worn with leggings, shorts which are shorter than mid thigh to knee length, visible or exposed underwear, smart watches.

This list is not exhaustive.

It is up to prison staff to make decisions and judgements as to when clothing is inappropriate. When making these decisions, staff will always consider decency and diversity. You may be asked to adjust clothing or wear alternative clothing if available. As a last resort your visit may be cancelled if the dress code cannot be followed.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by prison staff and PACT. There are refreshments available to purchase at the canteen. You are permitted to bring in cash (coins only).

Prisoners at Ranby can apply for extended visits. These are run on a monthly basis.

During the summer months there is an outside visits area available. Access to this area is restricted based on individual behaviour and security risks.

Family days

HMP Ranby run a family visits facility, subject to change. Dates for 2024 are:

• 16 October  
• 20 November
• 18 December

Keep in touch with someone at Ranby

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

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their cells for outgoing calls 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. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call. If a prisoner has listed you as a contact, prison staff may call you to confirm you consent to being contacted.

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 Ranby using the Email a Prisoner service .

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

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope, and your name and address on the back.

If you do not know their prison number, contact Ranby .

Photographs sent from home must have a return address on the envelope. You can also send photos from picture print companies.

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers. It will also be screened for drugs.

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

No parcels can be sent in by post or handed in on visits.

The only exceptions to this are:

• clothing needed to attend funerals and court

These are approved by application on an individual basis. Other exceptional circumstances may also be considered.

Contact Ranby for more information on what’s allowed.

Prisoners can buy personal items from approved catalogues rather than arranging for them to be sent in.

Yearly clothing parcels will be accepted subject to meeting the criteria. Please refer to the clothing parcel policy.

Life at Ranby

Ranby is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Ranby 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 .

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Ranby, 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.

Each person who arrives at Ranby gets an induction on a specialised wing 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

New arrivals to Ranby prison are held in a seperate area of the prison for the first 14 days.

Around 1,050 prisoners live at Ranby in a mixture of single and double cells across 7 house blocks.

House block 1 is the induction unit and house block 2 is where support is offered for prisoners with substance misuse issues.

There is a healthcare centre, library, sports facilities and gym.

There are multi-faith chaplaincy services.

Education and work

Ranby offers a range of educational courses, work in farms and gardens and workshops, employment courses and offending behaviour courses .

Reading, writing and language support is provided in work areas and on residential wings.

There are over 90 different accredited qualifications available from entry level to Masters degree and above.

Vocational training programmes available include:

• engineering and powder coat
• industrial cleaning
• painting and decorating
• fork lift truck driving
• health and safety card
• construction

Work opportunities include:

• waste management and recycling
• pallet furniture
• plastic injection
• white goods and furniture repair
• CD/DVD recycling

Ranby’s resettlement team helps prisoners with education, training, employment and accommodation on their release. It has links with training and employment providers locally and regionally. It provides pre-release courses on writing CVs, letters and application forms and interview techniques. They also offer advice on debt management in and out of prison, applying for benefits, and being a father inside prison.

Temporary release

Some prisoners may be eligible for release on temporary license (ROTL). This is based on a thorough risk assessment.

Organisations Ranby works with

Ranby works closely with the probation services, Nottinghamshire healthcare , Barnado’s , Shelter , We Are With You and others to support the needs of prisoners and their families during their time in custody and after release.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends .

You can read more about what Ranby is doing to support the family and friends of their prisoners in their family and significant others strategy .

Support at Ranby

Family services at Ranby are provided by PACT .

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency.

Call 01777 862000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Ranby .

Contact Ranby

Governor: Angie Petit

Telephone (24 hours): 01777 862 000 Fax: 01777 862 001 Find out about call charges

Follow Ranby on Twitter/X

HMP Ranby Retford Nottingham DN22 8EU

Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.

Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

Corrected visits booking line number.

Updated visits booking line number

New visiting times and booking information added.

Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.

visits update

Updated visit info

Updated prison info

Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.

Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Updated information about secure video calls.

added survey link

Updated safer custody number

First published.

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Blog Government Digital Service

https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/09/15/you-can-now-book-a-prison-visit-online/

You can now book a prison visit online

Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out phone calls. And if the visit date turned out to be impossible, they had to start all over again.

Now you can book a visit online . It takes about 5 minutes. Before, picking an available date was pot luck. Now there's a date-picker that lets you select 3 possible slots instead of 1. It’s a straight-forward service with user-needs at its heart but, if you get stuck, you can call the prison's visits booking line and someone will help you with the booking.

Here's a very short film we've made about it:

By making it easier to book visits, prisoners will see more of their friends and family. Evidence suggests this will help their rehabilitation. Transformation isn't just about websites.

The service was built by the Ministry of Justice, with a combined team from the National Offender Management Service, HM Prison Service and MoJ Digital Services.

For more of the story behind this service, read Mike Bracken's account of his trip to HMP Rochester or check out the service’s transformation page .

Join the conversation on Twitter , and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

You may also be interested in:

• Prison visit booking: using digital analytics to inform alpha development
• Making prison visits easier to book
• Meet the Transformation team

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 20 comments.

Comment by Pauline posted on 23 August 2015

How do you find out the prisoners number??? so you can go ahead with online booking of a visit?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 24 August 2015

You can find a prisoner using this service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner However it will be the prisoner's responsibility to get in touch with you to let you know their prison number etc.

Comment by linda posted on 15 August 2015

This service does not appear to work this is day 2 trying to use it

Comment by Olivia posted on 30 July 2015

Hi, If a visit is booked and someone cant make it, is it possible to change the name of one of the people to someone else?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 30 July 2015

It's best to contact the prison directly if this happens. You can find contact details here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Thanks, Louise

Comment by Paige posted on 28 July 2015

Hi my partner was sent to nottingham today, I was on his previous list 4 months ago for a visit. Will that still be on the system all will it have to he put through again if so how long does it take to be approved for a visit? Thanks Paige.

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 29 July 2015

You might want to get in touch with the prison first before booking a visit. You can find the contact details of the prison here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Comment by Debs posted on 27 July 2015

Hello Is there a list of prisons where online booking can't be used?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 28 July 2015

According to the information on this page: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits , you can arrange a visit to any prison in England and Wales through this service. If you're visiting someone in Northern Ireland or Scotland you'll need to contact the prison directly.

This link also lists the type of visits that are not covered by the online service: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits so you need to get in touch with the prison directly.

Hope that's helpful.

Comment by c.steer posted on 26 July 2015

So how do I find the booking form to fill in I am new to computers

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 27 July 2015

Here's the link to the booking form: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits

You'll need this information to complete the form:

prisoner number prisoner’s date of birth dates of birth for all visitors coming with you make sure the person you’re visiting has added you to their visitor list

Hope that's useful.

Comment by Shawnaa posted on 09 May 2015

i have a visit booked which i did online but i do not have a visiting order woll the prison let me in?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 11 May 2015

Your identity will be checked on arrival to make sure you’re on the visitor list.

Comment by jessicca posted on 27 January 2015

What happens after you book the visit and its confirmed by email do you need the visiting order ?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 29 January 2015

The Visiting Order (VO) number is generated by the booking system, it is included in your confirmation email and you will need this to change or cancel a booking.

However, if you're visiting a prison the guidance is that you only need your ID, not the VO number. If when you visit the prison you are asked for the VO number you should report this via the Contact Us link on the Prison Visits Booking form.

I hope that helps.

Comment by Ilysa Mcnally posted on 18 November 2014

How late in advance can I book e.g. book a visit today (Tuesday) for the Sunday coming???

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 19 November 2014

Hi Ilysa. Thanks for your question. A visit needs to be booked 3 working days in advance. So in this case, the visit request would have to be no later than Tuesday to allow for a visit on Sunday.

Comment by carole posted on 23 October 2014

How far in advance can you book visits

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 23 October 2014

Hi Carole. You can book up to 28 days in advance. Thanks for your question.

Comment by kimberly posted on 16 August 2015

does anyone know how to cancel a visit online?

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• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Male Local , Male YOI , Prison Visit

Prison information

Address:  HMP RANBY Straight Mile, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8EU

Switchboard: 01777 862107 Managed by: HMPS Region: Central Category:  Male Local Link to:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ranby-prison

Description

Ranby is a men’s prison in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Visit Booking: On-line

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit

Acceptable forms of ID

Search reports

IMB Reports

Prison Inspectorates Reports

Probation Service Reports

Prisons and Probations Ombudsman

Search the InsideTime library

Related posts

Judge says ranby governor “could not run a cafe”, 1 in 12 prisoners had covid, prisons: the good, the bad and the ugly, coroner criticises prison governors, 7 more prisons to get in-cell tech, police arrest suspected prison drug smugglers, books can still be sent to prisoners, covid restrictions on social visits eased, something missing or outdated.

If you have any information that you would like to be included or see anything that needs updating, contact Gary Bultitude at  [email protected]

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3 thoughts on “ hmp ranby ”.

hey i’m wondering how i can send a letter too my dad ! thankyou

Hi can you look in to see if my partner has got his emails I have sent 4 but not got anything back. Thank you

can you tell me how many children can go on a visit to Ranby

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Ranby Prison Information

• Accommodation: The prison provides multiple residential units with individual cells or shared accommodation for inmates. The cells are equipped with basic amenities, including beds, personal storage, and sanitation facilities.
• Education and Vocational Training: Ranby Prison places a strong emphasis on education and vocational training. Inmates have access to a range of educational programs, including basic education, literacy, numeracy, and accredited courses. Vocational training opportunities are also available to develop employable skills and enhance prospects for successful reintegration into society.
• Work Opportunities: Inmates at Ranby Prison have access to various work activities within the prison, such as maintenance, cleaning, kitchen, and other designated roles. These work activities aim to develop skills, instill discipline, and promote a sense of responsibility.
• Healthcare: Ranby Prison has an on-site healthcare unit staffed with medical professionals who provide primary healthcare services to prisoners. Mental health support, substance abuse programs, and specialized medical care are also available.
• Family Contact: The prison recognizes the importance of maintaining family relationships and facilitates visits and contact with family members, subject to specific guidelines and regulations.
• Resettlement Support: Ranby Prison offers pre-release planning and support to help inmates prepare for their eventual release. This may include assistance with accommodation, employment, and access to community-based support services.

Contact Information

Booking a visit to ranby prison.

Unlimited Prison Phone Calls Package

• Valid Passport
• Valid Photographic
• Driving Licence (full or provisional)
• Citizen Card
• Senior Citizens Bus Pass Travel Card (issued by Scottish Government)
• Utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Benefit book
• Bank statement
• other letter from official source

HMP Ranby: Troubled prison has 'unquestionably improved'

• Published 18 October 2018

A troubled Nottinghamshire prison has "unquestionably improved" despite issues with drugs, a report has found.

HMP Ranby was described as "in crisis" in 2014 and "still not safe" in 2015, with the use of drugs highlighted.

However, HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found measures, such as the electronic scanning for drug impregnated mail, has seen progress.

While there are still problems, the report said the prison was "getting the basics right".

Ranby is a category C prison holding about 1,000 men.

Concerns over violence and inmate deaths in 2014 led to inspectors say they felt it was in "danger of being overwhelmed with drugs".

In August, Ranby was one of 10 prisons earmarked for extra funding under a government drive to improve safety.

According to the latest report by inspectors : "The primary route into the prison of NPS [new psychoactive substances] and other substances was through impregnated letters - including false legal correspondence - cards and photographs.

"All incoming mail was electronically scanned for drugs and we were satisfied that the robust restrictions that applied when a test was positive were proportionate.

"Restrictions had also been discussed at the prisoner council where staff made efforts to allay any concerns over cross-contamination."

Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said: "HMP Ranby had proven to be a difficult prison to run and still had many problems to fix.

"The key priority remained undoubtedly the continuing battle against drugs, which undermined everything.

"But that was not the whole picture. In our view the prison had unquestionably improved."

Michael Spurr, chief executive of Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service, said: "I'm pleased that the chief inspector has highlighted the improvements achieved at Ranby, which are a credit to the governor and his staff.

"There remains more to do and we are taking firm action to reduce drug use and violence - particularly through improved detection, searching and perimeter security."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook , on Twitter , or on Instagram . Send your story ideas to [email protected] .

More on this story

Hundreds of prison staff caught smuggling

• Published 2 September 2018

I'll quit if jails don't improve - minister

• Published 17 August 2018

Four suicides at 'crisis' prison

• Published 24 July 2014

Legal highs 'could overwhelm prison'

• Published 25 February 2016

Related Internet Links

Ministry of Justice

HMI Prisons

HMP Ranby Visitors Centre

The Visitors Centre at HMP Ranby is run by staff from the Prison.

There are support services for children supplied by the Sure Start organisation whose volunteers work in the visits hall.

Our Partner

HM Prison Ranby

Table of Contents

HM Prison Ranby is a category C men’s prison located in Ranby, Nottinghamshire, England. The prison was converted in the early 1970s from a former World War II British Army camp. Some of the old army accommodation huts still remain part of the prison complex today.

Additional purpose-built cell blocks were added to Ranby during the 1980s and 1990s to expand capacity. The prison has gone through several phases of expansion over the years, with new cell wings being opened in 1996, 1998, 2008 and more recently in 2022. This has allowed Ranby to hold approximately 1,000 adult male inmates.

Location and security categorization

Ranby village in Nottinghamshire hosts the prison site. As a category C prison, Ranby houses male convicts who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who are unlikely to make a determined escape attempt.

Prisoners are often moved to Ranby towards the end of their sentence as preparation for re-entering society. The security level is below the maximum security of category A prisons and the closed conditions of category B.

Prison population and capacity

The current operational capacity of HMP Ranby is around 1,034 adult male prisoners. The majority are serving medium to long-term sentences. As of 2017, the prison held 1,034 convicted men over the age of 21.

The prisoner population is made up of sentenced prisoners as well as those on remand or awaiting trial or sentencing. Most inmates are from the local Midlands and Yorkshire region.

Layout and facilities

The prison accommodation at Ranby is divided between 7 main residential wings or house blocks. This includes units for enhanced prisoners, drug intervention programs and resettlement wings for inmates nearing release.

Facilities at the prison include workshop units for vocational skills training in trades like textiles, welding and industrial cleaning. There are also education facilities, physical exercise areas and kitchens where some inmates can work.

Daily Life in Ranby

Typical daily routine.

A typical weekday regime at HMP Ranby operates on a “line route” system to allow freer movement. Prisoners on different wings are unlocked at staggered times in the morning and afternoon to follow routes via opened gates down to work and education areas.

Mornings are taken up by work placements, classes or skills training. Afternoons may involve yard time for association and exercise. Meals are served in the late morning and evening once prisoners assisting in the kitchens have prepared the food.

Evenings are spent back on the residential wings. Cells are secured at night-time but unlocked again in the morning so the routine can continue. Regimes rotate weekly between the “fence side” and “yard side” of each house block.

Work and education opportunities

Ranby holds various facilities to provide purposeful activity for inmates aimed at rehabilitation. Around 16 workshop units offer vocational skills training in textiles, engineering, powder coating and industrial cleaning.

Education consists of over 15 classroom-based courses including business management, IT, maths, English, arts and social sciences. Other activities like physical exercise in the gym are also timetabled into the prison week.

Rehabilitation and resettlement programs

HMP Ranby has dedicated resettlement wings to help prisoners nearing their release reintegrate into society. Advice is provided on housing, employment and finances. The prison also runs targeted intervention programs like drug recovery units and anger management courses.

Family visits, counselling services and faith-based pastoral care also contribute to the rehabilitation process. However, inspections have found resettlement services need improvement.

Controversies and Criticisms of Ranby

Overcrowding issues.

With the growth in UK prison populations, overcrowding has been an ongoing issue at Ranby. Originally built for around 400 inmates in the 1970s, the population is now over 1,000. Extra accommodation wings have been added, but facilities are still strained.

Safety and security concerns

HM Inspectorate reports have highlighted security flaws allowing drugs, weapons and other contraband to enter the prison. Weaknesses in perimeter fencing, CCTV coverage, search procedures and staff vigilance have been identified.

There have also been failings in safely monitoring vulnerable prisoners and preventing bullying and violence. Security is critical for a category C prison where inmates interact more freely.

Drug use and availability

Despite efforts to stamp out the problem, illegal drugs and associated gang activity have remained entrenched issues at Ranby. Inspection reports show high availability of illicit substances like cannabis, pills and heroin.

Drug finds by staff are frequent. But demand remains high among the inmate population, fuelling violence and debt. Tackling supply routes into the prison needs to be a priority.

Poor living conditions

Antiquated Victorian-era accommodation inherited from the former army site provides cramped, inadequate cells housing up to three inmates. Lack of in-cell sanitation means inmates often use toilet facilities with no privacy from cell-mates.

Heating, plumbing and electrical systems are in poor repair in some of the older wings. Overall maintenance and cleanliness of communal prisoner areas have also come under fire during inspections.

Inspections and Reports on Ranby

Critical inspection findings.

As an established prison, Ranby has undergone many routine inspections by bodies like HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. These have regularly highlighted shortcomings in areas like safety, prisoner treatment, activities, rehabilitation and overall management.

Common themes in past reports include ineffective security, widespread drug availability, weaknesses in offender management and shortfalls in resettlement provision. Significant minorities of prisoners have reported feeling unsafe or being victimized by fellow inmates.

Recommendations for improvement

Inspectors have set out dozens of recommendations over the years for driving improvement at HMP Ranby. This includes tighter perimeter security, expanded CCTV coverage, hiring more officers, stronger drug search efforts and better rehabilitation services.

There have also been calls for updating outdated Victorian infrastructure, reducing overcrowding pressures and strengthening the overall prison regime and governance. More focus on tackling organized crime and violence has been advised.

Progress made

The prison has implemented reforms in some areas after past inspections. For example, more workshops and skills facilities have been introduced along with new drug treatment programs. Family visit arrangements are better and violence levels have fallen slightly.

But progress is still required in staffing, living conditions, and stopping the influx of contraband. Ranby faces the same resourcing and overcrowding pressures as many other UK prisons. Overall, change has been gradual in the face of significant challenges.

Notable Inmates

High-profile prisoners.

As a large category C prison, Ranby has housed various high-profile offenders over its history. These include notorious criminals who have been convicted of serious crimes that garnered national media attention in the UK.

Some examples are Michael Carroll – an ex-lottery winner jailed for drug offenses and crimes committed after squandering his fortune. Luke McCormick – a soccer player incarcerated for vehicular manslaughter. Martin Hall-Adams – former company owner imprisoned for a major business fraud.

Types of offenses

Inmates who end up in Ranby have usually committed crimes serious enough to warrant a medium to long-term sentence. This includes offenses like violent assaults, high-value frauds and thefts, major drug trafficking, firearms offenses, sex crimes, manslaughter, and other acts carrying a penalty of years of imprisonment.

The prisoner makeup reflects wider sentencing trends for these types of mid-ranking to more serious criminal convictions.

Impact and Significance of HMP Ranby

Role as a rehabilitation center.

A core role of Ranby, like other category C prisons, is to provide rehabilitation services and preparation for returning to normal life after incarceration. It aims to be a transitional facility equipping prisoners with skills, addressing issues like addiction, and connecting them with community services pre-release.

But Ranby has struggled to fulfill this rehabilitative function due to deficiencies highlighted by inspectors. Still, it provides structured purpose for hundreds of inmates daily through its education, training and work programs.

Place in the British prison system

As one of the larger dedicated category C training prisons in England, Ranby forms an important component of the national prison estate. It helps house and handle inmates in the latter stages of medium to long sentences prior to their eventual release.

The pressures and problems at Ranby also reflect wider challenges across the overstretched British prison system. On the whole Ranby delivers its core responsibility of safely incarcerating convicted criminals. But it has yet to reach its full potential as a positive reforming influence.

HM Prison Ranby has expanded over the decades to become a sizable category C prison for adult male convicts in England. It plays an important role in the British criminal justice system – incarcerating sentenced prisoners, providing structured activity, and preparing some inmates for release.

However, the Victorian-era infrastructure at Ranby has struggled to cope with modern prison populations. Significant problems around security, drugs, violence, and poor living standards have been identified by prison inspectors over the years. Progress to address these deep-rooted issues has been slow.

Ranby aims to offer rehabilitation services to prisoners nearing the end of their sentences. But shortcomings in areas like resettlement, counseling, and vocational training have been highlighted. Tackling organized crime and enhancing safety and decency for prisoners remains a challenge for the staff.

Nonetheless, Ranby continues to carry out its basic function as a training prison. Going forward, major changes in resourcing, staffing, infrastructure and management will be required to help the prison meet its rehabilitative goals and run as an efficient, reformative facility.

What type of criminals are housed at HMP Ranby?

Ranby houses adult men serving medium to long sentences for crimes like violent assault, large-scale theft and fraud, manslaughter, major drug offenses, sex crimes, and other serious convictions carrying multi-year prison terms.

What facilities are there for prisoners at Ranby?

Inmates have access to workshops for skills training, classrooms for education courses, exercise yards for physical activity, and houseblocks with in-cell sanitation. There are also kitchens, recreational rooms, visiting areas, and medical facilities.

How old is HMP Ranby?

Ranby Prison was first opened in the early 1970s after conversion from an old British Army base dating back to World War II. Some of the original army barracks are still used.

Why has the prison attracted controversy over the years?

There has been criticism over issues like overcrowding, poor conditions, security weaknesses allowing drugs/weapons in, high levels of violence and self-harm among inmates.

What is the typical daily routine for prisoners at Ranby?

The daily regime involves unlocking prisoners in the morning/afternoon for work, training, education, exercise and meals. Regimes alternate weekly between different wings. Evenings are spent in cells. Routines aim to keep inmates constructively occupied.

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Ranby Prison

Tel: 01777 862 000  –  Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 8EU

HMP Ranby is a category C male adult working prison with a capacity of 1,098. Originally a Second World War army camp, the building was converted into a prison in the early 1970s, and many of the original units are still used to this day. In recent years, the prison has been dogged by bad press, criticising conditions, lack of control and high levels of violence.

HMP Ranby was selected in 2016 to become one of six prisons that are piloting the prison reform scheme which the government described as ‘the biggest shake-up since Victorian times’

Tel: 01777 862 000

Operational capacity: 1098

Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 8EU

Prison phone are committed to prison reform too, We believe that strong family ties are vital to a successful rehabilitation program and as such we have been reducing the cost of calls from the prison pay phones at HMP Ranby since back in 2013.

Inmates that maintain strong family times are 6 times less likely to re-offend upon release.

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Here’s some facts about Ranby Prison

HMP Ranby is a category C men’s prison in Ranby, Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1972, the prison has capacity to hold 1,038 male inmates.

The prison consists of house blocks 1-7. House block 1 is the induction wing with single and double cells. House block 2 North is a general wing and South is a drug treatment wing. House block 3 is a general wing. House block 4 consists of 30 double occupancy cells with integral sanitation and showers. House block 5 consists of single cells, and houses 192 prisoners who are lower risk, older, disabled and night shift working prisoners. House blocks 6 and 7 have single and double cells with integral sanitation, holding 60 prisoners each. House block 7 has facilities for older prisoners.

In 2014 , a riot, in which 60 inmates participated in, broke out, and a fire was started at HMP Ranby. The riot started at 12:30, and continued up to 20:00. The fire was quickly put under control by fifteen fully-equipped firefighters.

To view the latest HMIP inspection report, click here .

Visiting hours are 14:00 – 16:00 Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, and 09:00 – 11:00 Saturdays and Sundays.

In 2013, 4 prisoners committed suicide, which raised further enquiries about conditions within the establishment.

An inmate in the prison was charged with the fatal assault of another prisoner.

A significant riot broke out at the ‘crisis’ prison in 2014, in a disturbance involving around 120 inmates.

Prison Phone offers phone tariffs that reduce the costs of calls from this prison by up to 75%! This enables prisoners to get the support and love that they are missing from home, while reducing costs for the inmate. Find out more below.

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From February 2020 arrangements for Ofsted inspection of education, skills and work in prisons and young offender institutions are:

• We usually inspect as part of a His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) inspection and our findings are published in the ‘Purposeful activity’ section of the report on the  HMIP website .
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15 February 2007

About HMP Ranby

• Type: Prison and young offender institutions
• Religious character: Does Not Apply
• Local authority: Nottinghamshire
• Address: Ranby, RETFORD, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8EU
• Region: East Midlands

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022

• Our reports
• / Our reports
• / HMP Ranby

Report on an independent review of progress at HMP Ranby by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (3 – 5 January 2023)

HMP Ranby ( 474 kB )

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HMP Ranby, HMIP Inspections

The prison was subjected to an inspection in March/April 2022. In their report the inspectors said in their introduction:

As a result of concerted efforts by prison leaders, and with the use of better technology, Ranby, a category C training and resettlement prison in Nottinghamshire, was much safer jail than at our inspections in 2016 and 2018. The flow of drugs had been a chief cause of violence but had been stemmed with better perimeter security, use of dogs and body scanners.

Leaders had taken advantage of the COVID-19 lockdowns to reset, focusing on breaking the cycle of violence. Our survey showed that prisoners felt much safer than they had at the time of our last inspection, and longer-serving staff members also said they were not experiencing anything like the levels of threat that they had suffered in the past.

We saw improvements across all parts our safety test, for which the prison was awarded our highest grade, ‘good’, with fewer assaults on staff and prisoners, better oversight of the use of force, good planning, and provision in place to improve the behaviour of the most violent prisoners and care for the most vulnerable.

Conditions in the prison were also gradually improving. Some of the more dilapidated wings had been refurbished and checks were in place to make sure that cells were clean and largely free from graffiti. Prisoners had recently been given laptops on which they were able to complete some of their domestic tasks, and inspectors were optimistic that once some initial issues were fixed, there would be an improvement in the response times to applications, complaints and diversity incident report forms. The functionality of the laptops was still limited, but there was scope for future expansion.

At the time of our inspection the prison had been at stage one of the HMPPS COVID-19 recovery framework for more than three weeks – this meant that most restrictions should have been lifted and the prison should have resumed its training role. While inspectors were sympathetic to the idea of a gradual return to full activities, leaders had been far too cautious in their approach and there were no dates set for when the regime was to be opened up. The very well-resourced workshops were almost empty, only a handful of prisoners attended classes, and the orderlies were usually the only ones in the library. Those prisoners who could not read were not supported by the education provider and were fortunate if they were allocated a peer mentor. More than 52% of prisoners were unemployed, and many were stuck in their cells or on their spurs with little or nothing to occupy their time.

The prison had recently introduced ‘structured on wing activity’ (SOWA), but the rationale was not clear to staff or to prisoners, mainly because leaders had failed to consider and communicate the outcomes they expected from this initiative. There appeared to be an eclectic mix of activities on offer to prisoners, though many – such as exercising outdoors or playing table tennis – could, in normal circumstances, have done as part of daily association time. A substance misuse workshop and an offender management surgery were also advertised, but staff from these two departments had not been told and nobody turned up.

Unemployed prisoners who did not sign up for SOWA activities were locked in their cells for an extra half hour; a shocking 23 hours a day behind their doors.

HMPPS had not done enough to prevent Ranby from becoming out of kilter with its remit as a training prison. More than 65% of prisoners transferred to the jail for resettlement as they reached the end of their sentences, but leaders had not responded to or planned for this change and were not providing adequate services for these men. Two particular community offender managers were working very hard to clear the backlog of cases, but the OMU was woefully under-resourced for the population, leading one frustrated prisoner to quip: ‘OM-who?’.

At the time of our inspection, Ranby was not operating as a category C training prison. Just keeping prisoners safe is not good enough, and if it is to fulfil its essential function in giving them the skills, knowledge, confidence and work ethic to support their return to the community, leaders urgently need to get them into the workshops and classrooms which should be a thriving part of this jail. The prison must break out of its COVID-19 inertia and provide meaningful, well[1]planned, and structured activities. It was telling that the most impressive work being done by prisoners was cooking and serving in the staff canteen – the challenge for leaders is to make the rest of the prison as productive.

Charlie Taylor HM Chief Inspector of Prisons May 2022

Return to Ranby

To see the full report go to the Ministry of Justice web sites.These links contains the reports for Ranby from 2002 until present:

• Inspection report (729 kB) , Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (21-22 March and 4-8 April 2022)
• HMP Ranby (918.61 kB) , Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby (4-15 June 2018)
• HMP Ranby (PDF, 1.64 MB) , Report on an announced inspection of HMP Ranby (24 – 25 August, 1 – 4 and 7 – 11 September 2015)
• Report on an announced inspection of HMP Ranby (5 – 9 March 2012) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (PDF 0.64mb)
• Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of HMP Ranby (8-10 March 2010) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (PDF 0.35mb)
• Report on an announced inspection of HMP Ranby (12-16 March 2007) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (PDF 0.98mb)
• Report on a short unannounced inspection of HMP Ranby (29-31 March 2005) by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (PDF 0.26mb)
• Report of a full announced inspection of HM Prison Ranby 11-15 February 2002 (PDF 0.22mb)

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