Full Sutton Prison
Full Sutton is a men’s high security prison in the village of Full Sutton, near York.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Full Sutton
To visit someone in Full Sutton you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 24 hours in advance (5 days for high risk prisoners)
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have, depending on their earned ‘privileges’.
Contact Full Sutton 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 Full Sutton
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
To arrange a visit you can:
- book your visit online
- request by email, socialvisits.fullsutton@justice.gov.uk
- book by telephone, 01759 475 355
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Please note: if you are visiting somebody located at Full Sutton for the first time, you must first call on the number provided above.
Visiting times:
- Friday, 1:30pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 1:30pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 1:30pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Booking line: 01759 475 355
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4.30pm
Find out about call charges
Legal visiting times:
- Friday, 9am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 1:30pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 1:30pm to 4pm
Getting to Full Sutton
Full Sutton is about 11 miles from York station. There is a limited local bus service between York and Full Sutton but no return service. A taxi will cost between £20 and £30. Ask the visitors centre if you need advice.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park, including space for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Full Sutton
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 given a pat-down search, including children
You may also be screened by drug detection dogs. If the dog shows an indication of an illicit item, your visit may be searched under closed conditions
If any illicit items are found during the search process or any attempt to traffic illicit items into the establishment then this could lead to the visit been cancelled and a ban from visiting the establishment for a period of time imposed and if deemed serious enough police involvement
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules this could lead to your visit being ended, a closed visits ruling being imposed, or you could receive a ban for a period of time
Full Sutton adopts a family-friendly dress code policy for visits which all visitors must follow. This policy is in place to ensure that visitors dress appropriately for their visit.
You may be turned away if you are wearing items such as:
- vests
- low-cut tops
- high-cut skirts or dresses
- shorts
- see-through or ripped clothing
- headwear other than that worn for religious reasons.
You will also need to remove hats, scarves, sunglasses, gloves, large belt buckles and chains.
Additionally you are not permitted to wear:
- items of clothing that contain offensive patterns or slogans.
- ponchos
- cargo/combat trousers
- uniforms (with the exception of school uniforms)
- steel toe-capped footwear
- football boots
- boots above knee length
- flip flops / sliders
Further details about the dress code can be requested by contacting the visitors centre on 01759 475 355.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £30 (£20 notes are not allowed). The money can be used to buy refreshments in the visitor centre and visits hall
There are strict controls on what you can take into Full Sutton. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats, all electronic items, phones, and smart watches.
If you have any questions about visiting HMP Full Sutton, including the dress code and restricted items, please contact the Visitors Centre on 01759 475 355.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors’ centre for prisoners’ families and significant others where staff provide advice and support. The visitors’ centre has accessible toilets, baby changing facilities and a small play area.
The centre is open on visiting days from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Refreshments will be available in the main visits hall.
Family days
Family day visits have commenced again, full details are provided to prisoners via a community newsletter.
Full Sutton aims to run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting, 01759 475 355
Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends will need to download the Prison Video app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.
Keep in touch with someone at Full Sutton
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Full Sutton.
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.
Secure video calls at this prison can only be requested by prisoners.
You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.
Phone calls
Prisoners at Full Sutton can call you from their in-cell phones. To contact you, they will need to purchase phone credit.
They are able to phone anyone who is an approved contact on their phone list.
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.
Prison staff may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Full Sutton 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 Full Sutton.
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 Full Sutton.
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
You cannot hand in items of property directly to prisoners or send property by post.
Friends and family members may send prisoners money via a digital platform which individuals can then use to purchase items through an internal prison catalogue system.
There are some exceptions, for example, books can be handed in before domestic visits or sent by post, and clothing for attending court or getting married, may be handed in with prior authorisation.
Books may also be purchased by prisoners via an approved supplier through the internal prison catalogue system.
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read Prison education and library services, Annex A.
Life at Full Sutton
Full Sutton is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners convicted of serious offences can make positive use of long sentences.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Full Sutton 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 Full Sutton, they may be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.
If the prisoner is unable to contact their family member, an officer or the wing manager will contact the family member on the prisoner’s behalf.
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 prisoner that arrives at Full Sutton 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 600 prisoners are housed at Full Sutton, across various wings and specialist units. Each prisoner is assigned their own individual cell. TVs are available to prisoners on ‘standard’ and ‘enhanced’ behaviour levels.
Prisoners have regular access to the gym and other activities (upon request and subject to approval).
Education and work
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities and training in trades and professions.
Work is available throughout the prison and in the industrial workshops. This includes:
- textiles
- lighting assembly
- cycle repair for charities
- catering
- restoration workshop/upcycling, building furniture
- DHL warehousing and distribution
- industrial cleaning
- orderly duties
- industrial wipes
- waste management unit
- printing and designing
- wood mill
Guided learning in education is open.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at Full Sutton email the Head of Reducing Reoffending:
socialvisits.fullsutton@justice.gov.uk
Support at Full Sutton
The family support team provides a range of information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners. You can call or ask in the visitors centre to speak to someone.
Telephone: 01759 575 440
Find out about call charges
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01759 475100 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01759 475068 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Full Sutton.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Full Sutton in response to independent inspections.
Contact Full Sutton
Governor: Gareth Sands
Telephone: 01759 475 100
Fax: 01759 371 206
Find out about call charges
Follow Full Sutton on Twitter/X
Address
HMP Full Sutton
Moor Lane
Full Sutton
York
YO41 1PS
Updates to this page
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The updated sections are: legal visits times, entering Full Sutton, secure video calls, phone calls, gifts and parcels, arrival and first night, accommodation, education and work.
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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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.
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added link to latest action plan and inspection report under the 'Problems and complaints' section.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated information to include confirmation of secure video calls being available at this prison.
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First published.