"Campaigners are urging ministers to change the law so that music lyrics are inadmissible in court, a shift that they say would stop a practice that disproportionately affects young black men and criminalises creativity. At present, police can produce lyrics written by defendants, and even flag an appearance in the background of a music video, as evidence that a suspect is affiliated with a gang or involved in criminality."
"The amendment, which is being tabled by Baroness Shami Chakrabarti and has support from Baroness Doreen Lawrence, is due to be debated in the Lords this week. Charkrabarti told the Guardian: We're in a ridiculous position at present where somebody's musical taste is somehow probative of their criminal intent. It is like saying that my love of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather makes me a mobster. It's extraordinary."
Campaigners want the law changed so music lyrics cannot be used as evidence in court because the practice disproportionately affects young Black men and criminalises creativity. Police currently use defendants' lyrics and appearances in music videos to suggest gang affiliation or criminal involvement. The proposed amendment to the victims and courts bill would bar lyrics as evidence except when they are literal and directly related to the facts of a case. The amendment is being tabled by Baroness Shami Chakrabarti with support from Baroness Doreen Lawrence and was drafted by Keir Montieth KC for the Art Not Evidence campaign. The campaign argues that lyrics are often fictional, exaggerated, or artistic and are being used to paint a misleading and prejudicial picture.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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