Full Sutton Prison
Full Sutton is a men’s high security prison in the village of Full Sutton, near York.
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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
You can book your visit online
You can book via email: socialvisits.fullsutton@justice.gov.uk
You can also book via telephone: 01759 475355
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
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: 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 visitors car park, including space for Blue Badge holders.
There is a free visitors carpark.
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.
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All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children
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You may also be screened by drug detection dogs. If the dog shows an indication of an illicit item, your visit may be conducted under closed conditions
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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
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Full Sutton has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut skirts or dresses, shorts, see-through or ripped clothing or headwear other than that worn for religious reasons
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Additionally, you cannot wear anything with offensive patterns or slogans, ponchos, cargo or combat trousers, uniforms (except school uniforms), steel toe-capped footwear, football boots or boots above knee length, flip flops, and sliders. You will need to remove hats, scarves, sunglasses, gloves, large belt buckles and chains. Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit or ring 01759 475355
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Ask in the visitor’s centre if you have questions about the dress code
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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 hall
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You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be terminated / closed visits imposed or banned for a period of time
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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. Call the booking line for a full list of restricted items
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Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting on 01759 475355
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 475355
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.
How to book a secure video call
Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.
You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.
Phone calls
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells 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.
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 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
It’s not possible to hand in items or property prisoners or send parcels by post. You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.
There are some exceptions, for example, books can be handed in and also clothes for a court appearance but check with the prison first.
Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
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
All new prisoners will be required to reverse cohort for a period of 14 days or provide 2 negative PCR tests.
Induction will be undertaken once reverse cohorting has occurred.
When a prisoner first arrives at Full Sutton, 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.
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
There are around 600 prisoners spaces at Full Sutton and they all get their own cell.
There’s a gym and sports facilities where prisoners can take part in varied activities.
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
- assembly and packing
- braille transcription
- desktop publishing
- catering
- DHL warehousing and distribution
- industrial cleaning
- orderly duties
- cycle repair for charity
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 Operations:
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
Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
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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.