A band who were arrested and held overnight after police wrongly thought they had a gun in their van have had DNA samples returned to them.
Armed police surrounded London-based band The Thirst and their backstage staff as they left The Oak pub, in Burntwood, Staffordshire, in November.
They were acting after a CCTV operator mistakenly thought they had seen a gun being carried by someone with the band.
Staffordshire Police later released the group without charge.
The band were invited to police headquarters to witness the destruction of their electronic fingerprint scans and have their DNA samples given back to them.
Mensah Hart, singer, guitarist and songwriter with the band, said: "It was nerve-racking being back in a police station again but I wanted my DNA and fingerprints back so we can put the whole ordeal behind us.
"We're looking forward to getting an assurance from the police that it doesn't happen again and an apology."
Staffordshire Police said an investigation by its professional standards department, supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, was continuing and should be concluded by the end of March.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our unreserved apology to the men for their arrest and detentions," a spokesman said.
A band who were arrested and held overnight after police wrongly thought they had a gun in their van have had DNA samples returned to them.
Armed police surrounded London-based band The Thirst and their backstage staff as they left The Oak pub, in Burntwood, Staffordshire, in November.
They were acting after a CCTV operator mistakenly thought they had seen a gun being carried by someone with the band.
Staffordshire Police later released the group without charge.
The band were invited to police headquarters to witness the destruction of their electronic fingerprint scans and have their DNA samples given back to them.
Mensah Hart, singer, guitarist and songwriter with the band, said: "It was nerve-racking being back in a police station again but I wanted my DNA and fingerprints back so we can put the whole ordeal behind us.
"We're looking forward to getting an assurance from the police that it doesn't happen again and an apology."
Staffordshire Police said an investigation by its professional standards department, supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, was continuing and should be concluded by the end of March.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our unreserved apology to the men for their arrest and detentions," a spokesman said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/8512820.stm
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