This week, we explore the question of what it means to privatise justice. The FT's Kadhim Shubber explains how, in the UK, private companies are hired to file and prosecute legal cases — even when the police think those same cases shouldn't be tried. Kadhim and Lilah discuss how private prosecutions work, why they exist, and what it could mean for the future of the justice system.

Correction: This episode has been updated to remove suggestions that private prosecution does not exist in the United States. Private prosecutions exist in a more limited form in the United States.

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We love hearing from you! You can email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com, we’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.

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Links:

– Kadhim’s magazine piece: https://on.ft.com/3qxsKGj

– Follow Kadhim on Twitter @kadhim

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Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast.

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Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The UK companies acting like the police 22:04 Share

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The UK companies acting like the police