The Neighbourly Society – Collected Speeches 2001-2003

What did the Prime Minister mean by the ‘causes’ of crime? He meant the social circumstances of the criminal – as if a child born into a particular home, in a particular street, in a particular town is condemned to a life of crime. But there is nothing inevitable about crime. There is always a choice. Even after the first offence there is a choice. Even after a thousand offences there is choice

Oliver Letwin MP - Monday, 27th October, 2003