NHS Infected Blood Scandal: A Horrifying, Avoidable Tragedy

Christopher Marsh at his home in Ramsgate. Photograph Jill Mead The Guardian

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NHS Infected Blood Scandal:
A Horrifying, Avoidable Tragedy

NHS and government led ‘chilling’ cover-up of infected blood scandal, inquiry finds

A five-year investigation has found that a ‘catalogue of failures’ led to the worst treatment disaster in NHS history

Betrayal with Devastating Consequences

The NHS Infected Blood Scandal is one of the most devastating healthcare disasters in British history. Thousands of people – many of them haemophiliacs – were infected with HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products between the 1970s and 1990s. What makes this tragedy even more horrifying is that it was entirely avoidable. Warnings were ignored, risks were downplayed, and victims were misled for decades.

This page explores the full extent of the scandal, the systemic failures that allowed it to happen, and the heartbreaking personal stories of those affected. Through in-depth analysis and a collection of key videos, we uncover the truth behind the cover-up and ask: will justice ever truly be served?

 ‘A lot of people were aware, for a long time, about how appallingly victims had been treated’

Infected blood scandal: ‘A cover up’ and ‘a deliberate attempt to lie’

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20 mei 2024

Clive Smith from the Haemophilia Society has told Sky News that conclusions of a cover up in the infected blood scandal is “not a surprise” to him.

It comes after a public inquiry found that the infected blood scandal was “not an accident” – and its failures lie with “successive governments, the NHS, and blood services”.

INFECTED BLOOD

Report: “Downright deception” by NHS and Govts

Infected blood scandal “was not an accident”

Blood risks were known before treatment

Victims were “betrayed”

Educational: This video is essential viewing

Evans, now 34, told the BBC last week that the scandal had “blanketed” his entire life. He is one of many victims and their families whose stories were instrumental to the commissioning of the inquiry by Theresa May in 2017,.


Taken as a whole, their stories – many of them told in the Guardian – represent a dizzying account of loss. For the long read, Robert James wrote an extraordinary piece about how his HIV diagnosis shaped his life, and his experience of giving evidence to the inquiry and hearing others do the same – and how, “after losing 20 friends, I stopped counting how many had died”. Liz Hooper lost two husbands treated with contaminated blood. Christopher Marsh (pictured above) lost his two brothers, and lives with hepatitis C himself. Nicholas Sainsbury, who attended a specialist boarding school, Treloar, which was equipped to treat his haemophilia, has HIV and hepatitis C – and 40 of the 55 pupils who were at Treloar in his first year have died.

“There is no doubt that these stories have given the inquiry impetus,” said Owen. “The agony of their examples lends so much weight to the argument, and they have moved the dial on public sympathy. It isn’t hard to see how giving those people a platform helped force some of this out.”

Jason Evans, founder of the Factor 8 infected blood campaign group, pictured after an interview with the PA news agency in Coventry. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

British Government Promises Compensation for All Victims After Contaminated Blood Scandal

Article by Stef Van Chaze

There is great outrage in the United Kingdom following the publication of a damning report. It reveals that between 1970 and 1991, more than 30,000 patients were given blood contaminated with HIV and hepatitis. This ultimately led to the deaths of approximately 3,000 people.

Blood was allegedly collected for years from prisoners and drug addicts and then used in British hospitals. According to the report, the dangers were known to the British government and the National Health Service (NHS), but they were deliberately ignored.

“A day of shame for the United Kingdom,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his apology, who had already announced that the victims would receive compensation. Now the Prime Minister is following through on his promise.

“All victims will receive full compensation by the end of the year. Whatever the cost, we will pay everything,” said Sunak.

£10 Billion

The total amount of compensation is not yet known, but it could reach £10 billion (€11.7 billion). On average, each victim could receive €2.5 million to €3 million, according to the British public broadcaster BBC.

British Finance Minister John Glen has meanwhile announced that some victims will receive interim compensation of €245,000 starting this summer. Payments will be made to both those directly infected and other affected individuals, such as partners and children.

Some victims received an initial compensation of around £100,000 (€117,000) in 2022.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has also apologized on behalf of the Scottish government. About 3,000 people in Scotland were infected as a result of the blood scandal.

“People who contracted HIV or hepatitis as a result of an NHS treatment have endured unimaginable suffering,” said Swinney. He promises that the Scottish government will work with the UK government on the compensation scheme.

In full: ‘This is a day of shame’, Rishi Sunak apologises for infected blood scandal

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INFECTED BLOOD

Report: “Downright deception” by NHS and Govts

Infected blood scandal “was not an accident”

Blood risks were known before treatment

Victims were “betrayed”

The NHS Blood Scandal, also known as the contaminated blood scandal, is one of the most significant public health disasters in the UK’s history. Here are the key points:

  1. Background:

    • During the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of NHS patients were given blood transfusions or blood products that were contaminated with hepatitis C and HIV.
    • Most of the affected were hemophiliacs who required regular blood products, specifically Factor VIII, which was sourced from high-risk donors including prisoners and drug users in the US.
  2. Scale of the Scandal:

    • Approximately 5,000 people were infected with hepatitis C.
    • Around 1,200 were infected with HIV, with many contracting both viruses.
    • Thousands of those infected have since died as a result of these infections.
  3. Government and NHS Failures:

    • There was a significant delay in screening blood donations for these viruses.
    • The government and NHS continued to use contaminated blood products even after risks became known.
    • Lack of adequate response and compensation for the victims initially.
  4. Legal and Financial Consequences:

    • Victims and their families have campaigned for decades for recognition, compensation, and accountability.
    • The UK government has been criticized for its slow and inadequate response to the crisis.
  5. Public Inquiry:

    • In 2017, a public inquiry was launched to investigate the circumstances surrounding the scandal.
    • The inquiry aims to uncover how the infections happened, the government’s role, and the response to the crisis.
    • It also seeks to provide justice and compensation for the victims and their families.
  6. Impact on Public Health Policy:

    • The scandal has led to significant changes in blood donation and transfusion practices.
    • There is now rigorous screening and stricter regulations to ensure blood safety.
    • It has also raised awareness about the importance of transparency and accountability in public health.

The NHS Blood Scandal remains a poignant reminder of the need for rigorous safety protocols in healthcare and the impact of systemic failures on public health.

BBC Panorama: Infected Blood : Time for Answers – 13th May 2024

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13 mei 2024


BBC Panorama: Infected Blood : Time for Answers – Monday 13th May 2024

Between 1970 and the early 1990s more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products and transfusions. It has been described as the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. Since then, around 3,000 of those infected have died, but many of their relatives have yet to receive any compensation. A public inquiry opened in 2018 to discover what really happened, and on May 20th 2024, it will deliver its final report.

Reporter Jim Reed meets the families of some of the 380 children with bleeding disorders who were infected with HIV and talks to them about what they have lost, their campaign for justice, and what they hope for from the inquiry.

Broadcast time: 20.00 BBC1 – Duration: 28.41

Victoria Derbyshire : 30th April 2018 – The Tainted Blood Public Inquiry

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1 mei 2018

Victoria Derbyshire Show : BBC Two – Monday 30th April 2018

High Court judge Sir Brian Langstaff is starting work this week as chairman of a public inquiry into the biggest treatment scandal in NHS history.

Thousands were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV from contaminated NHS blood products. Over 2500 have already died.

Steve Dymond was one of Haemophiliac victims to be given contaminated Factor 8 and is joined by his wife, Su Gorman.

In the studio, Victoria sits down with Andy Evans, chairman of Tainted Blood and secretary, Sue Threakall. Andy, a Haemophiliac, was infected with Hepatitis B, C and HIV at the age of just 5. He developed full-blown AIDS as a child and nearly died.
Sue’s husband, Bob Threakall died in 1991 at the age of 47 following the devastating effects of his HIV/AIDS infection.

Diana Johnson is the Labour MP for Hull North.

Educational: This video is essential viewing

Educational: This video is essential viewing.

Prime Minister Theresa May:
“People deserve answers.” (Minute 8 of the video)

Minute 17:45

Infected blood scandal ‘not an accident’ with ‘catalogue of failures’, public inquiry finds

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Infected Blood Inquiry: Will the victims finally get justice?


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17 mei 2024 #inquiry #skynews #uk

Thousands of people died after being given infected blood transfusions by the NHS in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

They were people with haemophilia, women giving birth, and cancer patients who died after contracting HIV or Hepatitis C from infected blood.

Over the past six years an inquiry has been studying millions of pages of evidence from hundreds of sources and witnesses.

Infected blood victims to be offered £100k in government compensation

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17 aug 2022

Patients who were infected with HIV and hepatitis C are to receive £100,000 in government compensation.

However many are not alive today – it’s thought around 2,400 people died as a result.

Government to reveal infected blood compensation scheme

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LIVE: Final report of the UK’s infected blood inquiry is published

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Infected blood scandal: Government was warned years before taking action

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1 NHS Infected Blood scandal: how ‘horrifying’ tragedy happened

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2 Infected Blood scandal: How UK failed on a global scale

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Educational: This video is essential viewing

Must

3 Rishi Sunak makes statement after infected blood scandal report

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4 Chair of infected blood scandal inquiry speaks to Sky News

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Sir Brian Langstaff told Sky News that ‘people went into hospital for treatment, put their trust in doctors, and their trust was betrayed.’
 
Watch his full interview with Sky’s Sarah-Jane Mee.
 

5 Police and CPS should investigate infected blood scandal, senior MP says

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6 Infected blood scandal: Victims set to receive billions of government compensation

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7 UK government covered up infected-blood scandal which left victims exposed, report finds | BBC News

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8 Infected blood scandal: Victims set to receive billions of government compensation

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9 ‘I am truly sorry’: Sunak apologises for infected blood scandal and its ‘chilling’ cover-up

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10 Blood Scandal: ‘We’re the Last in the World to Sort This Problem Out’

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Educational: This video is essential viewing

11 “People Were Institutionally GASLIT!” – Blood Scandal Report Finds Victims ‘Failed Repeatedly’

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Infected blood: Labour quizzed over role of Blair & Brown during scandal

 

21 mei 2024 #skynews #labour

Shadow Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is quizzed by Sky’s Kay Burley over the role of former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown during the infected blood scandal.

It comes after a public inquiry found that the scandal was “not an accident” – and its failures lay with “successive governments, the NHS, and blood services”.

12 Infected blood: ‘It should never have happened’ says paymaster general John Glen

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13 Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: Grant Shapps, Wes Streeting and Jim Ratcliffe

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Live gestreamd op 19 mei 2024 #Westminster #TrevorPhillips #Sunday

Join Trevor Phillips on our flagship weekly programme that aims to set the political agenda, delve deep into the big stories and hear from news-making guests.

Today he will joined by defence secretary Grant Shapps, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, Jim Ratcliffe and the government’s independent adviser Lord Walney

Tap the ‘Notify me’ bell button to be reminded when the show goes live and make sure you don’t miss anything ⬆️

14 Blood scandal public inquiry: What are the key findings?

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15 Infected blood disaster that destroyed lives ‘was no accident’ #news #politics #currentaffairs

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16 The faces and stories behind the infected blood scandal


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20 mei 2024 #inquiry #skynews #uk

More than 30,000 Britons were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s in what has been called the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.

The Infected Blood Inquiry is set to publish its report today on one of the biggest scandals in NHS history.

17 Death in the blood: The most shocking scandal in NHS history | Stories of Our Times

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18 Rishi Sunak avoids committing to compensation for Infected Blood scandal victims in inquiry

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19 UK: Government and NHS carried out ‘cover-up’ of infected blood scandal, says report | WION News

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20 Victims of hepatitis and HIV infected blood scandal speak on ‘damning’ report | BBC News

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At minute 10: absolute shocking

21 Watch live: Govt to announce details of a compensation scheme following infected blood report

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22 Infected with HIV and Hepatitis C as a Child

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Educational: This video is essential viewing

Absolutely shocking

23 Infected blood: Final compensation payments for victims to begin by end of 2024

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21 mei 2024 #skynews #infectedblood

Paymaster General John Glen has told the Commons that final compensation payments for infected blood victims will begin by the end of the year.

He also confirms payments of £210,000 will be made to “living infected beneficiaries” as well as those who register with a support scheme.

It comes after a public inquiry found that the scandal was “not an accident” – and its failures lay with “successive governments, the NHS, and blood services”.

24 How UK doctors infected patients with HIV

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Absolutely shocking: Prosecutions should follow

25 Infected Blood: Lessons From The Treatment Scandal | Bloomberg UK Politics

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21 mei 2024 Bloomberg UK Politics

A seven-year inquiry into the infected blood scandal says the deaths of more than 30,000 people infected with viruses whilst receiving NHS care were preventable. But how did it happen and what can those in charge do to stop something similar happening again? Bloomberg’s James Woolcock and Cara McGoogan, author of a book on the disaster, join the podcast to discuss. Hosted by Lizzy Burden and Yuan Potts

26 Infected Blood Inquiry live: chair Sir Brian Langstaff gives statement after damning report

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The chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry is Sir Brian Langstaff. Appointed on February 8, 2018, Sir Brian brought extensive legal experience to the role, having served as a High Court judge and as President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He retired from the High Court in May 2018 to dedicate himself fully to the Inquiry.
INFECTEDBLOODINQUIRY.ORG.UK

The Infected Blood Inquiry was established in 2017 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the use of contaminated blood products in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, which led to thousands of infections and deaths. The Inquiry’s final report was published on May 20, 2024.
HEPC TRUST

In response to the Inquiry’s findings, the UK government announced in August 2024 that compensation payouts to victims would begin before the end of the year, with some individuals entitled to more than £2.5 million.
THE GUARDIAN

27 A bloody disgrace: a full timeline of the Infected Blood Scandal | The Story

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28 Watch live: PM Rishi Sunak delivers statement after infected blood scandal report

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Live gestreamd op 20 mei 2024

Watch live from the House of Commons in central London where the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is delivering a statement, after the infected blood scandal report was released today.

Tens of thousands of people in the 1970s and 80s were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV after being given unscreened blood, and thousands of people have died as a result.

Educational

29 Infected blood scandal: Mother of victim demands justice | Denise Turton

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30 Infected Blood scandal: compensation for victims within months


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31 In Cold Blood – Infected Blood Scandal Documentary – Biggest UK Medical Treatment Disaster

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In Cold Blood: Contaminated Blood Scandal documentary.

This feature-length International Emmy Award winning documentary examines the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history. Directed by Grierson Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated documentary maker Marcus Plowright, this film tells the story of how thousands of British haemophiliacs were infected and died from HIV and Hepatitis C after being prescribed infected blood products by the NHS. This landmark film offers viewers a vivid insight into the scale and impact of the tragedy.

iNews: “It is to Marcus Plowright’s credit that his forensic documentary on the subject conveys not just the scale of the injustice but also the sheer human suffering. In Cold Blood was a difficult watch. But it was also a powerful act of bearing witness to lives ruined and futures stolen.”

0:00 – Intro
3:00 – Jason Evans
6:55 – The Impact
8:46 – Haemophilia
9:22 – Cryoprecipitate
10:04 – Factor VIII
14:34 – Hepatitis
18:27 – Barrie & Debs
19:16 – Treloar
20:37 – NANB Hepatitis
22:10 – AIDS
35:00 – No Conclusive Proof
38:01 – Heat Treatment
46:19 – HIV Testing
54:40 – The Fall-Out
58:05 – HIV Litigation Begins
1:00:30 – Ken Clarke Lies
1:04:39 – Hepatitis Waiver
1:14:25 – Covered-Up
1:19:36 – A New Campaign
1:26:58 – Infected Blood Inquiry

https://shockworker.tv/in-cold-blood-…

At minute 13: Give people the motive to lying.

32 Panorama – Contaminated Blood: The Search for the Truth

 

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11 mei 2017

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Contaminated Blood: The Search for the Truth – BBC Panorama

It has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. More than 2,400 people died and thousands more were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C after being treated with contaminated blood products. All the victims were infected over 25 years ago, but even now new cases are still being diagnosed. Survivors and their families are trying once more to persuade the government to hold a UK public inquiry.

Panorama examines recently released documents, and asks if the government could have done more to save lives. The film hears the heartbreaking testimony of some of the victims and their families and explores the dilemmas of doctors who had to carry on treating their patients through the unfolding crisis.

First broadcast: 10th May 2017 9.00pm – Running time: 58.01

Support: www.taintedblood.info

Educational: This video is essential viewing – Detailed

Educational: This video is essential viewing

33 Infected Blood Inquiry – Andrew Gwynne addresses the House

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34 Watch again: Government expected to announce infected blood scandal compensation

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35 Infected blood inquiry hears from former schoolboys infected with HIV

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36 PMQs key takeaways: Sunak and Starmer address infected blood scandal compensation

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22 mei 2024
 

Watch the full exchange as Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer addressed the infected blood scandal compensation in PMQs on Wednesday 22 May.

37 Infected Blood inquiry – will new report finally bring justice for victims? | The Daily T podcast

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37 BLOOD MONEY : 7 year old Colin died of AIDS after his doctor ignored the rules

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15 apr 2024 #TaintedBlood #Haemophilia #ContaminatedBlood

BLOOD MONEY : Monday 15th April 2024 – BBC Wales Investigates

When 10 month old Colin Smith contracted HIV after receiving contaminated blood products, his parents’ house was daubed with “AIDS Dead”.
His father was also forced to leave his job.
Now 34 years on from his death from AIDS at the age of seven, his family are facing another injustice.
An investigation has found Professor Arthur Bloom, the doctor who gave Colin infected imported blood product Factor VIII, broke his own rules to do so.
Just three months earlier, Bloom’s own department had written internal NHS guidelines discouraging the use of imported blood treatments on children because of the risk of infection.
“This wasn’t an accident,” said Colin’s father, also called Colin. “It could have been avoided.”
His son, who was being treated for Haemophilia – a rare condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot – was one of more than 3,000 people to die in the UK after being given infected blood products.
Parents Janet and Colin from Newport, have fought for more than 40 years for answers and hope the Infected Blood Inquiry, which is due to report its findings on Monday 20th May 2024, will provide a measure of closure.

Broadcast time: 8.00pm – Duration: 59.45

Educational: This video is essential viewing

38 Special report: Infected Blood – The search for truth

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39 Infected blood scandal: ‘This is a day of shame for the British state’ ,says Rishi Sunak

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Important

40 Infected blood scandal victims to receive life-long compensation

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41 Infected blood scandal victims to receive life-long compensation

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42 Cartoony Prank

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20 mei 2011

20 mei 2011

What happens here is hard to explain. A thief steals a bag near a prank victim and a high speed chase ensues. While a police officer is running after the thief, they stumble onto a Scooby Doo movie set and do the whole “people running after one another and coming in and out of different doors routine” – to the amusement of the prank victims watching on. But how can the thief and cop be running in and out of the doors and hallways so quickly? It’s revealed that the prank victims are actually seeing double – there are two twin policemen, and the thieves are also twins. All four of them have been running all over the place, adding to the confusion!

A presentation of JustForLaughsTV, the official Just For Laughs Gags YouTube channel. Home of the funniest, greatest, most amazing, most hilarious, win filled, comedy galore, hidden camera pranks in the world!