The decision was confirmed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a statement to MPs in the House of Commons this morning.
Announcing the outcome of the first review of the tiered system of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, Mr Hancock said the UK has “come so far” in its fight and “mustn’t blow it now”, adding: “As we enter the coldest months, we must be vigilant and keep this virus under control”.
He confirmed that: “For the vast majority of places currently in Tier 3, we’re not making a change today”, with decisions assessed according to the following five published indicators:
Case rates
Case rates amongst the over 60s
Test positivity
Rates of change
Hospital pressure
The ruling means that all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester will remain under the tightest restrictions within the UK government’s three tiered system for the rest of December at least.
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It’s still believed that restriction reviews will continue to be fortnightly.
Local leaders and campaign groups had hoped that some measures in Greater Manchester would be relaxed upon the first review after the region had shown a consistent drop in coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission rates in many boroughs since being placed into Tier 3 following the end of the second national lockdown at the start of the month, but the government has declared that the region will remain put.
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The full list of Tier 3 rules for Greater Manchester can be viewed here.
Many of those local leaders have taken to social media this afternoon to respond to the decision.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham stated on Twitter: “If you look at the figures below, it’s hard not to conclude: when cases rise in the North, the North goes under restrictions, when cases rise in London and the South East, everyone stays under restrictions.”, with Sir Richard Leese – Leader of Manchester City Council – responding: “Even though our numbers are better than either London or Liverpool’s were 3 weeks ago, still in Tier 3 – Unbelievable.”, and Sacha Lord – Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester – adding: “After the toughest restrictions for months, lower overall indicators than other Tier 2 regions in the UK, next week England can mix up to 3 households, for 5 days – what a kick in the teeth for hospitality”.
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Campaign group UnitedCity – who is “calling on the government to review the region’s tier allocation weekly, rather than fortnightly” – branded the decision as: “a knock to all Mancunians who have worked hard to keep our R rate as low as it is”.
With one of the group’s founders, former Manchester United and England footballer and proud Mancunian Gary Neville adding: “They released 5 key criteria 2 weeks ago to measure Tiers by. Manchester is lower than many T2 areas were 2 weeks ago [and] today the government ignored their own criteria,
“The biggest set of charlatans to be ever elected.”
The decision by the government today has also come under fire from many local MPs across parties throughout the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, with one Conservative MP even standing up in the House of Commons to ask Matt Hancock the all-important question:
“What exactly do we have to do to be moved out of Tier 3?”
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Sir Graham Brady – Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West, and chair of the 1922 Committee – told Mr Hancock the tier news will be greeted with “dismay” among his constituents as they have had severe restrictions for nine months, despite nine out of 10 boroughs’ case rates now being below the national average.
Mr Brady said: “Our rates are lower than they are in neighbouring Warrington or neighbouring Cheshire, which have been put into Tier 2, and are also lower than they are in Bristol, which has been moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2 today,”
And followed up with: “What exactly do we have to do to be moved out of Tier 3?”
In response to Mr Brady’s question, Mr Hancock said he understands the “disappointment” that Greater Manchester residents and leaders may be experiencing, but that the “challenge” is whenever restrictions are lifted, neighbouring areas see their cases “rebound” and there is “significant pressure” on the NHS services in the region.
He also added that he “looked very closely” at moving certain areas – Trafford, Stockport, Tameside and High Peak – into Tier 2, but again reinforced pressure on the NHS as being the reason for this not to go ahead.
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Greater Manchester joins other large parts of the North West in remaining in Tier 3.
The official review of local restrictions has also subsequently been published to the gov.uk website this afternoon, providing a further insight into the government’s decision to place / keep areas within certain tiers, and formally concluding that: “the epidemiology indicators remain too high for de-escalation to Tier 2” in Greater Manchester.
The full review reads:
You can read the full published review of local restrictions here.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty sacked
Daisy Jackson
A ‘morally reprehensible’ police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty has been sacked and barred from service.
GMP held an accelerated misconduct hearing with PC Dean Dempster, 35, and he has been dismissed without notice.
The disgraced officer admitted ‘sexually touching’ the six-year-old child in December 2023 and is set to be sentenced at a later date.
He was a response officer in Oldham at the time that the offence was reported, and was arrested by a supervisor when he returned to work the next day.
A senior officer has now said that Dempster ‘has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public’.
Another said it was ‘among the most distressing cases ever presented’ and a ‘despicable betrayal’ of police duties.
Dempster was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl while responding to an incident on 29 December 2023.
He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in February and remained suspended since being charged at the end of last year.
Presiding over today’s hearing, CC Watson found PC Dempster’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, saying: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.
“It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor.
“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer.
“I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public.
“We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us.
“This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”
Dempster has been added to the College of Policing Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who described Dempster’s actions as ‘morally reprehensible’.
GMP used accelerated proceedings as part of its pledge to ‘root and boot’ officers unfit to serve the public.
The force is now writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Dempster to lose his right to a police pension.
Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
Monday 13 May
Monday 20 May
Monday 3 June
Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.