Ban rap and drill lyrics in the courtroom

Abstract

Keir Monteith KC has been working in the criminal courts since the last century; he defends in high profile cases, some of which are of constitutional significance and also sits as a part time Crown Court judge. In this Middle Eight, he argues that, in recent years, the state has increased its use of rap and drill to prosecute Black defendants, that music is being used to plug gaping holes in cases with no forensic evidence, and that this regressive and racist practice has to stop.