Fixed penalties handed out for breaching Covid-19 restrictions

Photo: GMP

Police

Local police officers issued five fixed penalty notices for breaches of Covid-19 restrictions this weekend.

Officers from Rochdale District issued three fixed penalties to householders who hosted gatherings, two £1,000 fixed penalties to people who failed to self- isolate after returning from abroad and one £1,000 fixed penalty to a person who failed to self-isolate after a positive Covid-19 test.

A spokesperson for the local force said: “We must all play our part in trying to help stop the spread of the virus to the most vulnerable in our society. Enforcement action will be taken to those breaching the regulations when appropriate.”

More than 70 fixed penalty notices were issued on Friday and Saturday for breaches of Covid 19 legislation including a lack of social distancing in a licensed premises and one gathering in south Manchester involving up to 100 people.

One pub in Didsbury voluntarily closed on Friday evening after police and licensing officers from Manchester City Council attended following a report from the public of social distancing rules being broken.

Elsewhere on Friday in Fallowfield a member of the public called police at around 10.45pm after seeing a takeaway still serving customers – contravening 10pm curfew rules. An FPN was issued during this incident.

In Bolton, 28 FPNs were issued at nine separate locations on Friday for indoor gatherings breaching Government rules.

At one address in Farnworth on Saturday, five separate households were found to be mixing. Seven FPNs were issued at this incident alone.

On Saturday, it was believed that between 70 and 100 students were in attendance at a property in Withington, Manchester. Police attended and found a very large gathering of people, some of whom appeared heavily intoxicated. Officers issued seven FPNs and a noise abatement order is also due to be issued.

Also on Saturday officers were called to a house party in Fallowfield. Upon police attendance, up to 20 people attempted to flee from the rear of the property. Four FPNs were issued during this incident.