Claims that sex offenders are being freed from HMP Whatton without treatment

PEOPLE could be at risk because sex offenders are being released from a specialist Notts jail without treatment, it is claimed.

"Inadequate" funding at HMP Whatton, near Bingham, means some inmates are not undergoing psychological programmes to try to stop them re-offending.

The claim is made by the jail's Independent Monitoring Board in a report out today.

Board chairman Dr Ed Pollock said he was worried about a risk to the public because the lack of Government cash at the prison means there are not enough psychologists to treat prisoners.

It follows a report in June which said dozens of Whatton inmates were let out in 2011 after serving their sentences but without having the recommended treatment.

The jail is the largest for sex offenders in Europe and specialises in psychological programmes. Mr Pollock said: "We as a board don't know what happens to prisoners when they are released but what we are worried about is potentially some are being released without having their risk of re-offending reduced. It's been raised a few times and we have written to the Minister, Jeremy Wright, about this."

The jail has 840 prisoners, 70 per cent of whom have committed sex crimes against children. All volunteer to be sent to Whatton for treatment.

The jail employs psychologists to try to change prisoners' behaviour and thinking before release to cut the chances of them striking again.

The board has found that 46 inmates were let out last year without having treatment programmes. In the report, Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: "It was concerning that not all sex offenders who required it were receiving treatment they needed.

"In the interests of the individuals concerned and the communities to which they were returning, this needed to be addressed."

Prisoners are monitored on release by police and the probation service. Whatton governor Lynn Saunders said: "We have made applications for further funding and hopefully this will be forthcoming."

"We do our best to ensure every prisoner undergoes treatment but some don't for a variety of reasons including resources, finances and prisoners arriving without sufficient time left on their sentences to carry out a programme."

Today's report is also expected to say day-to-day the prison is well operated and safe.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We thank the Independent Monitoring Board for Whatton for their report, which will be fully considered by Ministers. We will respond to the board in due course."