What is the Art Not Evidence campaign asking for?

The Art Not Evidence campaign is urging ministers to change the law so that music lyrics are inadmissible in court, arguing against their use as evidence of gang affiliation or criminality.

How might the law change regarding music lyrics in UK courts?

A proposed amendment to the victims and courts bill seeks to limit the use of lyrics as evidence, permitting it only when the lyrics are literal and directly relevant to the specific facts of a case.

In which UK cities is evidence from music lyrics most often used?

London and Manchester are identified as the two cities where evidence derived from lyrics and music videos is used most frequently in court cases.

Home / Crime and Justice / UK Court to Decide: Are Rap Lyrics Evidence?

UK Court to Decide: Are Rap Lyrics Evidence?

9 Feb

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Summary

Campaigners urge ministers to change laws on using lyrics as evidence.
Proposed change targets the victims and courts bill in parliament.
Debate focuses on admissibility of lyrics except when literal.

UK Court to Decide: Are Rap Lyrics Evidence?

A campaign group, Art Not Evidence, is urging ministers to amend UK law, advocating that music lyrics should be inadmissible as evidence in court. Currently, police can present lyrics and even appearances in music videos as proof of gang affiliation or criminal involvement. This practice is seen as disproportionately impacting young black men and criminalizing artistic expression.

The group seeks to change the victims and courts bill, which is currently progressing through parliament. An amendment, supported by Baroness Shami Chakrabarti and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, aims to allow lyrics as evidence only when they are literal and directly pertinent to the case. Baroness Chakrabarti criticized the current stance, comparing it to associating one's taste in films with criminal intent.

Keir Montieth KC, part of the Art Not Evidence campaign, drafted the amendment. The campaign argues that lyrics are often fictional, exaggerated, or artistic expressions, not literal confessions. While the Crown Prosecution Service states lyrics are not used as sole evidence, research indicates their use in over 70 trials between 2020-2023. London and Manchester are noted as cities where this evidence is frequently presented, particularly in joint enterprise cases.