Role Prison Managed by HM Prison Services Phone +44 1759 475100 | Governor Paul Foweather Opened 1987 Name HM Full | |
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Location Full Sutton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England Population 608 (as of October 2006) Website Full Sutton at justice.gov.uk Address Full Sutton, York, North Yorkshire YO41 1PS, United Kingdom Similar University of York, Fox Inn, Burnholme Community College, U Pull It, Chris Clubley & Co | ||
Security class Adult Male/Category A | ||
HM Prison Full Sutton is a Category A and B men's prison in the village of Full Sutton, near Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Full Sutton is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service and holds some 600 inmates. The prison's primary function is to hold, in conditions of high security, some of the most difficult and dangerous criminals in the country.
Contents
The Prison also has a unit known as the 'Close Supervision Centre', which is referred to as a "Prison inside a Prison". This is used to house prisoners, who are a high risk to the public and national security. HMP Full Sutton will not accept prisoners who have been sentenced to less than 4 years, or who have less than 12 months left to serve.
History
Full Sutton Prison opened in 1987, as a purpose-built maximum security prison for men. Over the years, it has held some of the most difficult, violent and dangerous criminals in the country.
In March 2000, the Home Office ordered an inquiry into Full Sutton after evidence emerged of racism among prison officers at the jail. The evidence centred on a log of an Asian inmate's phone conversations kept by two prison officers. In January 2003, the prison was criticised again, when it emerged that inmates at Full Sutton were being paid as an incentive to learn to read and write. Payments of £1 to £3 were being made to prisoners on successful completion of literacy and numeracy courses at the jail.
In December 2005, a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons stated that gangs inside the prison were arranging "fight clubs" to pay off debts. The level of bullying and violence was so great that many wings were unsafe. There was evidence that gangs who had been operating on the streets continued to function inside the prison using intimidation. Security concerns had led to prisoners being denied access to outside sports.
In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Board criticised Full Sutton for high levels of drug use amongst prisoners. The board stated that illegal drugs were an "insidious disease" inside the prison.
On 22 February 2011, the convicted murderer Colin Hatch, who was jailed for the murder of 7-year-old Sean Williams in 1993, was murdered in the prison. The man responsible was Damien Fowkes, an inmate who also attacked fellow child killer Ian Huntley, who survived.
In March 2017 it was announced that a new prison will be built adjacent to the current one. The existing prison will stay open during the development.
The prison today
The healthcare centre at the prison has a six-bed ward, with an additional two safer cells and a crisis suite. The centre is staffed by a full-time Medical Officer. Full Sutton Prison provides a range of educational courses, from Basic Skills through to Open University degree courses.
Employment and training is also available in various prison workshops including bricklaying, painting and decorating, plumbing, recycling, textiles, contract services, Braille transcription, catering and industrial cleaning. The prison's gym also provides physical education with recognised qualifications, as well as recreational gym. There is a visitors' centre, with facilities including a baby changing area, a play area for children and refreshment machines.
On 26 May 2013, a prison warder was taken hostage. He and a female colleague were injured; other officers successfully dealt with the incident.