ABSTRACT
How many times have you heard the phrase ‘I wish they’d do something about crime’? or ‘I wish they’d make sure that life sentences mean life sentences’? This chapter looks at just who ‘they’ are in relation to criminal justice policy in England and Wales. You should be aware that in this chapter we have included the names of some of the current key post-holders within the English and Welsh criminal justice system. However, these post-holders can and will change as the political and organisational landscape develops over time. As a result, if you are undertaking some work that requires naming officers or ministers of state you should check to see exactly who the current post-holder is instead of relying on the information contained in this chapter. One of the enduring features of academic writing is the endless qualification of statements and claims!
