According to the committee, COVID rules have changed at least 65 times since March 2020 - and the "unfair system" was leading to fines being "incorrectly issued."
A parliamentary committee is calling for all fines issued during lockdown to be reviewed due to a “lack of legal clarity”.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) – which consists of MPs and Lords – is a group that scrutinises each government bill for ‘its compatibility with human rights’, and members said they had “significant concerns” about the validity of lockdown fines.
According to the committee’s new report, COVID rules have changed at least 65 times since March 2020 – and the “unfair” system was leading to fines being “incorrectly issued.”
More than 85,000 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPRs) have been distributed in England during the pandemic so far.
Breaches considered to be the most serious – and where the organiser has organised gatherings of more than 30 people – have seen fines of £10,000.
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£800 penalties have also been introduced for house parties where there are over 15 attendees.
But the JCHR has said that lockdown fines need to be scrutinised – with committee Chair Harriet Harman stating that the “whole process disproportionately hits the less well-off and criminalises the poor over the better off.”
🗣️" Every Fixed Penalty Notice issued under #coronavirus Regulations must be reviewed".
— UK Parliament Human Rights Committee (@HumanRightsCtte) April 27, 2021
Ms Harman added: “We’ve got an unfair system – with clear evidence that young people, those from certain ethnic minority backgrounds, men, and the most socially deprived, are most at risk.
“Those who can’t afford to pay face a criminal record along with all the resulting consequences for their future development.”
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It was revealed this week that a law firm has taken up case of Karen Reissmann – a frontline worker who was fined £10,000 for organising a St Peter’s Square protest against the proposed 1% pay rise for NHS workers.
Despite an initial review, GMP have so far upheld the fine – with the force “satisfied that the issue was proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary in the circumstances.”
Organisers of an impromptu gig at Platt Fields Park featuring AJ Tracey were fined £10,000 in a high-profile breach earlier this month – with hundreds flocking to see the rapper visit Manchester.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
News
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
The Manc -
27th April 2021 
