Police mix up actors and suspects
Police who put out images of football thugs mistakenly included
the faces of actors from hooligan movie The Firm.
Officers used a Sky TV report to capture images of fans involved
in riots at the West Ham v Millwall cup clash in August.
But because they turned off the sound they failed to realise the
report featured footage from the movie, reports The Sun.
Although most of the photos were of suspects cops wanted to
trace, some were actors, including Paul Anderson who appears as Bex
in the film.
Scotland Yard bosses have now withdrawn six mugshots fearing
they could be sued.
And a spokesman said: "We wish to apologise unreservedly to
those affected."
The error was described by Yard insiders as a "bad day at the
office" for those responsible.
The Firm, released last month, is a coming-of-age drama set in
the early 1980s about a young man who joins a "firm" of football
hooligans.
Vertigo Films, who made the film, said: "We have received an
apology from the Metropolitan Police which has been accepted."
A source added: "We are delighted our scenes are so realistic
people can't tell the difference between them and real events."
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