Full Sutton (HM Prison)

HMP Full Sutton
Opened 1987
Management HM Prison Service
Prison type Adult Male/Category A
Prisoner figures 608 (October 2006)
Location Full Sutton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Governor Steve Tilley
Information www.justice.gov.uk

HM Prison Full Sutton is a Category A 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.

Contents

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.[1]

The prison was criticised again in January 2003 when it emerged that inmates at Full Sutton were being paid as an incentive to learn to read and write. Payments of between £1 to £3 were being made to prisoners on successful completion of literacy and numeracy courses at the jail.[2]

A report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in 2005 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.

Notable inmates

Former inmates

Current inmates

References

External links