East Sutton Park Prison and Young Offender Institution
East Sutton Park is an open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Maidstone, Kent, for women aged 18 and over.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to East Sutton Park
To visit someone in East Sutton Park you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 working days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
Contact East Sutton Park if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have a health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to East Sutton Park
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online, by email to [email protected] or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 303 0630
The booking lines are open:
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Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12pm to 5pm
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Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Please arrive at the prison 20 minutes before your visit.
Visiting times:
- Saturday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
There are currently no legal visits taking place.
Getting to East Sutton Park
Find East Sutton Park on a map
The closest railway station is Headcorn.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a car park with 2 disabled spaces.
Entering East Sutton Park
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.
Refreshments will be available to purchase during your visit.
You will have to leave large amounts of cash, bags and mobile phones in your car or in a locker.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
There will be refreshments available to purchase during your visit. There is also childrens play facilities available.
There is no smoking in or around the visits hall.
Family days
Family days are being held.
Keep in touch with someone at East Sutton Park
Prisoners get one phone call on the day they arrive at East Sutton Park. They will be allowed to make other phone calls to people on their contact list on the next working day after they arrive.
Phone calls
A prisoner at East Sutton Park can only phone you if you are named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always need to call you rather than you call them. They can make calls from 6am to 10pm.
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.
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
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
You can send emails to someone in East Sutton Park 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 East Sutton Park.
Letters
Include the person’s name on the envelope.
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
Include the person’s name on the parcel. Contact East Sutton Park for more information on what is allowed.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
People in East Sutton Park can also order items from catalogues and can bring back up to 6 items if they are on temporary release, if this has been approved in advance.
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 East Sutton Park
East Sutton Park is focused on providing a safe environment and the support prisoners need to successfully move back into the community.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at East Sutton Park has a right to feel safe. The staff at East Sutton Park 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
Every new prisoner gets to make a phone call. They will be shown their cell and introduced to their house by another prisoner who will give them support in their first week.
Induction
Each person who arrives at East Sutton Park 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
About 100 prisoners live at East Sutton Park.
There are a mixture of cell sizes, from 7-bed dormitories to 2-bed cells.
Prisoners can move freely and use the gardens.
Free time
Prisoners have 2 ‘association’ rooms in their free time. One is a quiet room and the other has a TV and stereo.
Prisoners can visit each other’s cells and use the gym, library and gardens.
Faith services
East Sutton Park has a multi-faith room for prisoners.
Education and work
There is a range of education and skills provision. This includes a working farm, butchery, horticulture and gardens, catering, vocational and distance learning, and physical education.
East Sutton Park has good community links. Up to 35 prisoners work outside in voluntary and paid employment on a daily basis.
All prisoners work and can earn pay for the job they do. Prisoners can spend their money on canteen items.
Prisoners are also supported to get paid work for when they leave custody.
Temporary release
All prisoners have a risk assessment to see if they can have temporary release.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01622 785000 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 | 01622 785000 | 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 [email protected] or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem Contact East Sutton Park.
Contact East Sutton Park
Governor: Amy Dixon
Telephone (24 hours): 01622 785 000
Fax: 01622 785 001
Find out about call charges
Follow East Sutton Park on Twitter/X
Address
HMP/YOI East Sutton Park
Sutton Valence
Maidstone
Kent
ME17 3DF
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Updates to this page
Published 2 October 2019Last updated 15 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated new Governor name
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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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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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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: HMP East Sutton Park visiting times and visiting procedure changes in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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updated survey link
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Prison visits update.
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First published.