Enjoying mafia movies doesn't make me a killer. So be wary of the state using rap music to prove murder | Shami Chakrabarti

"But what if those who write or even just enjoy this form of popular art found themselves prosecuted for real crime, with their work or taste used as evidence of criminality? If you find this possibility ridiculous, spare a thought for the increasing number of young black men and boys charged with gang-related offences on the basis of their participation in, or mere engagement with rap and drill music."

"It is more than three years since the Guardian published an excellent piece by Ciaran Thapar, a youth worker and writer, who shared his experience of refuting music evidence in a trial in which a group of young people faced charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm. Now, some white middle-aged police officers routinely put themselves forward as expert witnesses as to the appropriate interpretation of this predominantly youth cultural phenomenon."

"Reliance on this evidence to prove motive, intention or criminal propensity is prejudiced and prejudicial. It risks grave miscarriages of justice, not least when accompanied by the dangerous doctrine of joint enterprise. The Crown Prosecution Service doesn't keep records on the use of rap music as evidence, but a study by the University of Manchester identified 68 cases involving 252 defendants betw"

Prosecutors increasingly use rap and drill music as evidence to infer motive, intention, or criminal propensity, disproportionately affecting young Black men and boys. White middle-aged police officers sometimes present themselves as expert interpreters of youth cultural expression. Reliance on musical content and the joint enterprise doctrine creates prejudiced, prejudicial cases and risks serious miscarriages of justice. The Crown Prosecution Service does not keep formal records on rap music evidence usage. Academic research has identified numerous instances where music served as evidence in criminal cases. Mainstream crime entertainment contrasts with selective criminalization of certain cultural forms.

Read at www.theguardian.com