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British
police will investigate newspaper reports that supermodel Kate Moss
took illegal drugs, London's Scotland Yard said, as a second
fashion house parted ways with the 31-year-old over the
scandal.
The police inquiry comes after the Daily Mirror newspaper printed
pictures of the London-born model that the British tabloid said
showed her snorting cocaine.
In another setback for one of the world's most famous fashion
figures, British retailer Burberry said it had ditched plans to
work with Moss this year due to the controversy.
Its announcement followed a decision by Swedish-based fashion giant
Hennes and Mauritz to cancel an advertising campaign using
Moss.
French fashion house Chanel said it would not renew a contract with
Moss that expires next month, but declined to comment on whether
this was linked to the drug claims.
Police said any investigation would require more evidence
than newspaper photos before it could proceed.
"Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has reviewed the matter and
had asked officers from the specialist crime directive to look at
reports as highlighted in a national newspaper," a Scotland Yard
spokeswoman said.
Moss's lawyer, Gerrard Tyrrell, was not immediately available for
comment on the police investigation. Moss has previously denied
taking hard drugs and has yet to comment on the Mirror's
claims.
Moss, who has a two-year-old daughter, won substantial libel
damages in July over claims by the Sunday Mirror that she collapsed
in a cocaine-fuelled coma in Barcelona in 2001.
H&M said it had made its decision to sever ties with Moss after
talking to her, saying she was regretful. It gave no further
details.
Burberry, which has no contract with Moss, also decided to ditch
the model.
"We had one project scheduled with Kate for this autumn and in the
circumstances both Kate and Burberry have mutually agreed that it
is inappropriate to go ahead," it said in a statement.
"We are saddened by her current circumstances and hope she
overcomes her problems as soon as possible," Burberry added.
While not linking its decision to the scandal, Chanel's
announcement will add to Moss's woes as she seeks to limit the
fallout of a September 15 report.
Billed by the Mirror as an "undercover investigation", it featured
grainy images apparently of the catwalk queen taking cocaine.
"We have a campaign with her until the end of October and we don't
have any other projects (with her) after this date," a spokeswoman
for Chanel perfumes said.
Moss has been the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle perfume since
2002.
She was discovered by a modelling agency as a 14-year-old
schoolgirl, and her waifish good looks have graced the covers of
countless magazines.
Tabloid interest in Moss intensified in recent months because of
her on-off relationship with British rocker Pete Doherty, who has
admitted to addiction to cocaine and heroin.
British media have reported that Moss earns about $7.22 million a
year through commercial contracts.
