The Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke, gave his inaugural speech on prison reform at the Royal Society of Arts. Of prison, he said ‘I believe its purpose is threefold: First, protection of the public – prison protects the public from the most dangerous and violent individuals. Second, punishment – prison deprives offenders of their liberty and certain freedoms enjoyed by the rest of society and acts as a deterrent. It is not the only sanction available, but it is an important one. And third, rehabilitation – prison provides offenders with the opportunity to reflect on, and take responsibility for, their crimes and prepare them for a law-abiding life when they are released.’
