Police issue fines after breaking up a birthday bash
POLICE issued a raft of Covid fines after breaking up a birthday party that contravened lockdown rules at a Macclesfield home.
Officers were called to an address in Upton Priory on Saturday night, February 27, following reports that the bash was taking place.
Inside they found people from different households were attending and issues 10 Covid fines as well as taking the names of all guests.
Although there is now a ‘road map’ for the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions through spring and summer, police have once again had to urge people to follow the rules. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, from Cheshire Police, said: “We’re still at a critical stage of the pandemic which has seen more than 120,000 people lose their lives.
“Since the start of the January lockdown, officers in Cheshire have issued more than 900 fixed penalty notices.
“These fines have been issued for a range of blatant breaches, but we are continuing to see cases where people are visiting friends in other households, holding parties and travelling without reasonable excuse.
“It is really important that, although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we must continue to comply with the restrictions in place to keep infections down.
“The rules are clear and when our officers are met with blatant and repeat breaches they will not hesitate to enforce.”
Officers have dedicated coronavirus patrols and there is a page on the
Cheshire Police website where breaches can be reported.
The party has once again highlighted the issue of compliance with very clear guidelines that have been put in place to protect public health - particularly the most vulnerable members of the community.
Police revealed news of the party on social media and some then branded the party-goers ‘stupid’ and ‘selfish’.
But others pointed out that same weekend the parks were busy with people not social distancing or wearing a mask.
During the pandemic police have told of other fines issued for breaches of regulations.
These include £1,000 for a gym in Macclesfield where two people were found getting personal training sessions on a Tuesday afternoon in November.
And the Prince Albert pub, on Newton Street, was hit with an eight-week temporary closure order in October after persistent complaints of disorder and breaches of Covid regulations.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire David Keane said: “We must all continue to be cautious with each relaxation of the restrictions in order to get back to some form of ‘normality’.
“We must all work together to drive down coronavirus cases and in order to do this, we must all continue to stay at home, only leaving for limited circumstances, until restrictions are lifted by the Government.”