Video shows crowd gather in city centre
LARGE crowds gathered in Nottingham city centre on the last night before Tier 3 restrictions were enforced. Video footage sent to the Post shows a large group of people gathering in Nottingham city centre just hours before the county went into Tier 3 lockdown.
The crowd was in St James’ Street, just off the Old Market Square, as pubs and bars kicked out ahead of their 10pm curfew.
The video shows a large number of people chanting together in the street before they are dispersed by police.
Simmy Purwaha, who captured the footage shortly before 10pm last night, said: “The partying was on St James’ Street, which has a number of pubs and bars, some of which are prominent student bars.
“The actual shenanigans started at about 9.55pm when all of the bars let the patrons out at the same time on to a small lane. Mixed with booze it’s a recipe for disaster.
“It went on for about 20 minutes before enough police turned up to send people on their way.”
Simmy believes students have been given a ‘ hard time’ by the Government.
He added: “The huge rise in cases (in Notts) was at the exact time students moved in to the city and all the hotspots were in prominent student areas (Lenton, Radford, Beeston).
“That doesn’t excuse the awful behaviour on display yesterday. Although it’s a minority of students they’re taking the [mick] and ruining it for the rest of us who want to go for a drink but will be unable to without purchasing a meal.
“This minority of students paint a bad picture for the wider majority who have been following guidelines.”
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed an arrest had been made and dispersal orders were put in place after reports of groups not social distancing.
A man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.