Adam Deacon keeps his DVDs in car due to cop searches

Adam Deacon carries copies of his own films to prove to police he is an actor and not a criminal after alleging he was regularly stopped and searched by cops for no reason.

The BAFTA-winning Kidulthood star, who investigates racism within the police force in a forthcoming BBC documentary, admits he was forced to come up with the unusual practise after frequent run-ins with the law.

He tells The Sun, "You do come across officers who get angry when they discover you are not a criminal. They start pulling up the mats. It happens often enough to me that I keep a copy of one of my DVDs in my car so I can show it if I get stopped."

However, Deacon insists he has noticed a change in the police force while filming the documentary, adding, "I met police cadets aged 15 or 16 and I knew none of them were at all racist. They were joining the force to make a difference and to help the community.

"Slowly, the police are building up trust with communities - especially after last year's riots. The problem is it doesn't take much to damage that trust again."