Full Sutton Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-20)

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 (#entering-full-sutton) 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 (#contacts) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits), 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 (https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits)
- request by email, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- book by telephone, xx-xxxx-xxxx
Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

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, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
How to book official visits

To book official video visits email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

To book face to face official visits, you can:
- email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- phone xx-xxxx-xxxx
Booking line operates Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4.30pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Official video visits times:
- Monday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:15am, 2:30pm to 4:15pm
- Tuesday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:15am, 2:30pm to 4:15pm
- Wednesday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:15am, 2:30pm to 4:15pm
- Thursday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:15am, 2:30pm to 4:15pm
- Friday, 9am to 11am
Official face to face visiting times:
- Friday, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday, 1:15pm to 3:45pm
Getting to Full Sutton

Find Full Sutton on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-0.869465,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x41e509f006de7ad8!8m2!3d53.9850448!4d-0.869465?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

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:
- use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
- use Traveline for local bus times (https://www.traveline.info/)
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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-security-at-visits-policy-framework-open-estate/acceptable-forms-of-identification-id-when-visiting-a-prison-in-england-and-wales-annex-a).

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children

You may also be screened by search dogs. Our search dog handlers carry out all searching professionally while understanding the sensitivities around particular faiths. If the dog shows an indication of an illicit item, you 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
Any removal and searching of religious headwear is conducted in a sensitive, supportive way and, when required, will be carried out in a private area.

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 xx-xxxx-xxxx.

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 xx-xxxx-xxxx.

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

Full Sutton aims to run 12 family visits a year.

You can find out how these visits run by contacting xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Information about family visits is also provided to prisoners via a community newsletter.

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 (https://prisonvideo.com/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.

Read more about how it works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

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 the security team 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 (https://prisonvoicemail.com/).

Prison staff may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Full Sutton using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

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 (#contacts).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money).

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 (https://send-money-to-prisoner.service.gov.uk/help/apply-for-exemption/) - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
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 in by post if approval has been provided.

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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-education-and-library-services-for-adult-prisons-in-england/annex-a-sending-and-handing-in-of-books-to-prisoners).

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. Our staff are responsible for maintaining safeguarding measures and welfare within the prison.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website (https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/pages/category/need-urgent-help?Take=24).

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 who arrives at Full Sutton for the first time will access a week-long induction period which outlines how day-to-day life in the prison operates.

Our induction programme also assists in settling prisoners into their new environment. 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 and work activities.

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 (https://www.gov.uk/support-for-families-friends-of-prisoners).

To contact our head of family provision at Full Sutton email the Head of Reducing Reoffending:

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

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: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call xx-xxxx-xxxx 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 Full Sutton (#contacts).

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Full Sutton (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-sutton-prison-action-plan) in response to independent inspections.

Contact Full Sutton

Governor: Gareth Sands

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Follow Full Sutton on Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/HMPFullSutton)

Address

HMP Full SuttonMoor LaneFull SuttonYorkYO41 1PS

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-0.869465,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x41e509f006de7ad8!8m2!3d53.9850448!4d-0.869465?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)