Police issue 105Covid notices in Holyland
MORE than 100 Covid notices were issued and three people were arrested after police called to house parties in the Holyland area of south Belfast.
Four people were reported to the Public Prosecution Service and a community resolution notice was issued when police visited houses on Monday night and into the early hours of yesterday morning.
A total of 94 Cov4 notices, with fines starting at £200, and 11 Cov2 notices for those living at the properties were issued for breaches of Covid guidelines.
It came after officers went to the area on a number of occasions to disperse various groups of people following a number of reports of anti-social behaviour throughout Monday afternoon and later in the evening, as well as yesterday morning.
Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: “Police would encourage residents to continue to report issues of anti-social behaviour to them.
“While local officers will be making follow-up enquiries, it is disappointing that we continue to receive reports about noisy parties and anti-social behaviour in this residential area.
“In light of last night’s events police are currently in the Holyland and will continue to have a nightly policing operation in this area this week. Local residents should be respected and should not have to contend with this type of behaviour.”
Residents’ campaigner Brid Ruddy, who has lived in the Holyland area for 30 years, said the anti-social behaviour has never been as bad during the Easter period.
“This is not common and it doesn’t usually happen,” she explained. “It’s very, very worrying that a pattern has been set.
“Usually this place is deserted at Easter because the universities are off, university staff are off and city council staff are off, but the place has been bunged with cars and parties.
“It really is a very concerning development because it’s now 24/7 year round partying, where before it only happened during term time.”
Ms Ruddy added that there is a false perception that anti-social behaviour occurs in the Holyland during freshers week in September and St Patrick’s Day.
“It’s Monday through to Sunday and I think it has just become known as 24/7 year round party land,” she said.