I’ve just been listening to the PM talking on Morning Report about putting more people in prison as though it’s the solution to crime and recidivism.

Conservative politicians from all parties (this is not confined to National and Act — plenty in Labour agree with it) like to push this belief and I’m sure some of them even believe it. The reality is that it doesn’t work.

But, it speaks to a seam of retribution in our society. There are a plenty of examples from other countries where a different approach based around rehabilitation works. The countries don’t have ‘nicer’ criminals, just a better system to make sure they don’t boomerang between prison and wider society.