Rap music used as evidence in scores of trials in England and Wales, study finds

Researchers say issue urgently needs scrutiny' after rap and drill music used as evidence against 252 defendants over three years

Rap and drill music was used as prosecution evidence for serious charges including alleged gang-related murders against at least 252 defendants in England and Wales over a three-year period, a study has found.

The researchers at the University of Manchester, who found 68 cases involving rap evidence covering the 252 charged individuals, said the issue urgently needs scrutiny" as there was no meaningful regulation nor even monitoring of how the criminal justice system used rap as criminal evidence.