Police ban rapper from film shoot

Busta Rhymes has also appeared in films including Shaft

US rapper Busta Rhymes has been banned from the set of a film he is appearing in after police raised security fears.

The movie, Order of Redemption, has started filming in New York without Rhymes, who has had several recent run-ins with the law.

The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting said producers agreed his absence after "the Police Department raised public safety concerns".

But the film's director said the move was "tremendously unfair to Busta".

Rhymes, 34, angered New York police a year ago by refusing to speak to them about the murder of his bodyguard.

The rapper declined to talk to officers after seeing Israel Ramirez shot while a music video was being filmed.

'Nothing but professional'

He has also been accused of assault on four separate occasions in the past five years.

Order of Redemption is an action thriller also starring Oscar nominee Tom Berenger.

Its director Jeff Celentano said: "This is tremendously unfair to Busta, who has been nothing but professional during this project. This is a bigger loss for the city of New York."

The New York Times reported that producers were unable to meet the cost of extra officers that police said were necessary due to Rhymes' "celebrity status".

The rapper's hits include Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See, Dangerous and Touch It. He has also appeared in films including 2000's Shaft and Finding Forrester.