Police cock up: Some Wanted West Ham 'hooligans' were actors from The Firm movie

[clippedgull]

Scotland Yard has apologised after actors from a hit film were mistakenly identified as football hooligans being sought after riots at a West Ham game.

Police issued 66 pictures of people supposedly caught on camera during violent clashes in August.

The images wrongly included stills of six actors from recent film The Firm.

A TV report was used to capture the images but because there was no sound officers did not realise it included clips from the hooligan-themed film.

Fan stabbed

Scotland Yard, who released the images on Tuesday, said: "Six images of individuals who were not involved in the violence were mistakenly included.

"These images appear to have been taken from a motion picture.

"We wish to apologise unreservedly to those affected. We are going to be actively trying to contact those people to offer our apologies."

A Millwall supporter was stabbed as fans clashed outside West Ham's Upton Park ground in east London after the home side won 3-1.

Police have arrested more than 40 people so far in connection with the trouble on 25 August.

The Firm, which was released last month, is set in football hooligans' 1980s heyday and is about a young man who joins a "firm" of thugs.

BBC

 

[coventrygull]

classic

 

[wellquickwoody]

Absoluely brilliant! Couldn't make it up! LMAO!

 

[hopper_182]

My opinion of the police in this country cannot get any lower at the moment. IMO they are next to useless.

 

[albionalex]

 

[johnnyrocketpants]

"We are going to be actively trying to contact these people to offer our apologies"

This eqals to- "We are going to spend more time apologising to these people so they don't sue us, than we are trying to nick the rest"

Sign of the times.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

These actors will now be tarnished with the image of being real football hoolies.

 

[hart's shirt]

"Police cock up some wanted West Ham hooligans."

It makes a change from a post-match beer, I suppose...

 

[looney]

My opinion of the police in this country cannot get any lower at the moment. IMO they are next to useless.

 

[Paxton Dazo]

Haha ; Anyone see this?!

BBC NEWS | England | London | Football 'wanted men' were actors

 

[clapham_gull]

I think a fair few people have even seen it on here.

 

[Paxton Dazo]

Cool.

 

[surrey jim]

that's hilarious