Prime Minister's gun cops quiz rap star over raunchy video

Aug 31 2008 By Heather Greenaway

BAD boy rapper MC Harvey was quizzed by armed police while making a raunchy video near Gordon Brown's Fife home.

The controversial So Solid Crew star was being filmed romping with model Clarita De Quiroz on the bonnet of an Aston Martin under the Forth Bridge.

But he was forced to stop the early hours shoot after police patrolling near the PM's North Queensferry home swooped.

The company behind the shoot had failed to alert authorities to their filming plans.

Director Neil Stewart said: "It was pretty scary to say the least. One minute we were happily filming, the next there were police officers with what looked like machine guns in their hands standing behind us.

"We hadn't seen them approaching - the first thing we knew was when they were right on us. We froze on the spot."

The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday.

Neil, 27, of Scot Short Productions, added: "There must have been about 20 of us there including Harvey. We had a big generator with us, lighting, props, cameras and a whole load of electrical equipment.

"I can see how we would look suspicious from a distance but close up it was pretty clear what we were doing.

"After checking our credentials the police were happy to let us continue. Afterwards I thought how great it would have been if we had managed to get footage of them arriving but I'm not sure police with guns would take too kindly to that."

Harvey laughed off the incident and said: "Scotland is a friendly place. I really love coming here.

"Everyone I have met has been so polite. When someone bumps into you in the street they immediately apologise.

"That's not what I'm used to." Fife Police admitted the armed response was caused because the shoot was so close to the PM's house.

She said: "Normal practice is for filmmakers to contact us about their intentions.

"When they fail to do so, officers will question these individuals to verify they have genuine intentions."

Harvey - who topped the charts with So Solid Crew's 21 Seconds in 2001 - has had a controversial career.

The band were criticised for lyrics which encouraged gang violence and several members of the Crew were jailed for possessing guns.

Their producer Carl Morgan was jailed for life for murdering a love rival in 2004 though band member Megaman - real name Dwayne Vincent - was found not guilty after two retrials.

Harvey's bad boy status was confirmed after he cheated on his wife, Strictly Come Dancing winner Alesha Dixon, with her best friend, singer Javine.

'One minute we're filming..the next cops with machine guns are behind us'

Director Neil Stewart

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