HC Deb 19 June 1917 vol 94 c1614
65. Mr. T. RICHARDSON

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the doubt and confusion which exists in the minds of many persons, he will give some explanation of the salient points of difference between internment in camp and internment in prison, and internment in prison and ordinary imprisonment?

Sir G. CAVE

Internment, whether in camp or prison, is a precautionary measure taken in respect of alien enemies and of persons of enemy origin or association who are suspected of hostile designs. Such persons are ordinarily interned in camps, but internment in prison has to be resorted to in a few special cases where an interned person has abused the comparative liberty of the camp or is unfitted to associate freely with other interned persons. The conditions of internment are less stringent than those of imprisonment, which is a punishment imposed on persons convicted of crime.