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Jo Coles - York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

Jo Coles - North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime

Home - News - Julia mulligan responds to plans to build new prison near York

22 March, 2017

Julia mulligan responds to plans to build new prison near York

Today (22 March 2017), Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss unveiled proposals for a new prison at Full Sutton. The new establishment, that will be built next to the existing maximum security prison which opened in 1987, is located about 11 miles east of the City of York and lies within the territory of Humberside Police.

The news comes amidst a government pledge to create up to 10,000 modern prison places in England and Wales by 2020.

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Julia Mulligan, said: “It is good to see the Government investing in building modern prisons as they are much needed, so I welcome the announcement for a new facility at Full Sutton, especially following the closure of HM Prison Northallerton in 2013. 

“Having said this, North Yorkshire still has no local men’s prison and this causes significant issues. For example, securing suitable accommodation, rehabilitation, employment and access to substance misuse services can all be much more challenging when prisoners are dotted about the country. Rather than a top down approach, we need much better joined up, local working to solve such fundamental issues. 

“In North Yorkshire, we have a well-attended Local Criminal Justice Board, which I now chair. Representatives from each criminal justice agency sit on the board and we have recently restructured to focus more keenly on effectiveness, efficiency and innovation. Success is not going to be overnight, but there is much we can do by better combining our efforts at a local level.”

The new establishment is one of four new developments planned, in a bid to reform the prison system, driving down re-offending rates and improving standards for prisoners and employees in England and Wales.

The Justice Secretary said: “We cannot hope to reduce re-offending until we build prisons that are places of reform where hard work and self-improvement flourish. 

“Outdated prisons, with dark corridors and cramped conditions, will not help offenders turn their back on crime – nor do they provide our professional and dedicated prison officers with the right tools or environment to do their job effectively. 

“This significant building programme will not only help create a modern prison estate where wholescale reform can truly take root but will also provide a thriving, economic lifeline for the local community – creating hundreds of jobs for local people and maximising opportunities for businesses.”