The Welsh Criminal Justice System: On the Jagged Edge

The Welsh criminal justice system is unique.

While the country has its own devolved government and parliament, there is no Welsh equivalent of the Scottish or Northern Irish justice systems. Rather the writ of England and Wales criminal justice institutions continues to run. Yet the extensive responsibilities of Wales’ devolved institutions ensure that they necessarily play a significant role in criminal justice. As a result, the Welsh criminal justice system operates across a jagged edge of devolved and reserved powers and responsibilities.

This book provides the first academic account of this system. It demonstrates not only that Wales has some of the worst criminal justice outcomes in western Europe, but that even if the will existed to try to address these problems, the current constitutional underpinnings of the Welsh criminal justice system make that nigh-on impossible.

Based on official data and in-depth interviews, this is an urgent, challenging and deeply troubling book that is required reading for anyone interested in Welsh politics and society.

The book is published by University of Wales press on October 15th, and the public launch takes place on October 26th at Cardiff University. Registration details are available at this link.