ABSTRACT
Several kinds of national and local agencies have as an official function the control of some part of the system. The main local agencies are Probation Committees, Children's Committees of local authorities, police forces and courts. The Home Office also provides the secretariats and official 'assessors' for the councils, committees and commissions which give official advice to the Home Secretary, and it has a considerable say in the choice of the chairmen and members. Backbenchers themselves can also initiate criminal or penal legislation, although again the attitude of the Home Secretary or his civil servants can make all the difference between success and failure. The Lord Chancellor – who is always a lawyer – has an indirect but considerable influence through the choice of persons for judicial office. The Churches probably have less influence over public opinion on penal questions in England than in most other Western countries.
