Prison Safety and Reform

Nick's Intervention in the Secretary of State's Statement

Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) (Con) 

I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and the continuation of a progressive agenda to ensure that prisons are places that not only keep offenders secure but rehabilitate them. Does she agree that it will be important to ensure that staff are empowered and held accountable for that objective of reducing reoffending, as well as for that of keeping people safe?

Elizabeth Truss (The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice) 

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to ensure that prisons are not only places of safety but places of reform. We are wasting a huge amount of talent at the moment, and we are also presiding over problems in society, with a £15 billion bill for the crimes that ex-offenders go on to commit. We have a progressive agenda, and it is also important to prevent there being more victims of crime.

You can read the full debate here: http://tinyurl.com/qdo97ko