The Voiceless Victim: A critical analysis of the impact of enhanced victim participation in the criminal justice process

Abstract

In contrast to many European jurisdictions, the victim of an alleged crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is denied any form of meaningful participation at the trial stage of the criminal justice process. This is by reason of the unyielding structure of the Anglo-American adversarial system, which facilitates a dispute between two parties only-the prosecution, acting on behalf of the collective public interest and the defence.