Art Not Evidence group wants change in law that currently allows lyrics by defendants to be presented as evidence of gang affiliation
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.
Campaign groups want a change to the victims and courts bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, to stop police from being able to present lyrics as evidence except when they are “literal, rather than figurative or fictional”.
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.
