170 fines for Covid rule breakers in Greater Manchester this weekend
Police stopped a number of house parties and a group of people travelling to Bolton from Preston to pick up a takeaway
Last updated 18th Jan 2021
Greater Manchester Police have issued 170 fines for Covid rule breakers this weekend alone.
It brings the total number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued by GMP since August to 2,660.
The majority of fines were issued following house parties as well as some larger gatherings.
These include 16 fines to partygoers at a property on Peregrine Street in Hulme, reports of 30 people at a house party on Greengate in Salford and officers were called to a large party at a flat on Derby Street in Cheetham Hill in the early hours of Sunday morning.
An investigation is now ongoing after up to 40 attendees ran off when police arrived.
Officers have also highlighted four people travelling to Bolton from Preston to pick-up a takeaway. They were fined after their car broke down on Watergate Lane.
Chief Inspector Carol Martin, of GMP's Covid response team, said: "The majority of people across Greater Manchester are following the Government's guidance - we would like to thank them for doing their bit throughout the pandemic. However, there is a minority who think they are above the law.
"It is incredibly frustrating to those abiding by the rules that some people are showing such a blatant disregard for the current regulations. Not only are they putting their own lives and those of their loves ones at stake, they also risk undoing the hard work of everyone else continuing to make the necessary sacrifices at this time.
"We would like to reassure people that dedicated teams of officers are responding to reports of non-compliance and are continuing to follow the national lead by engaging with members of the public, explaining the law and encouraging compliance, but our officers will not hesitate to take enforcement action if people are found to be flouting the rules."