50-person fight and officers verbally abused at lockdown party in Beetham Tower
Greater Manchester Police broke up a lockdown party at Beetham Tower last weekend which involved a mass brawl and guests verbally abusing officers.
GMP are looking into the prospect of issuing a £10,000 fine to the organiser of the gathering on Deansgate – which saw dozens of people in attendance.
Police were contacted following reports of a fight at the property involving as many as 50 people.
A review into the incident is ongoing.
GMP have also published footage of the party (below) – which appears to show officers being criticised by some guests.
One man is heard accusing police of “spoiling” the event.
Other attendees, aged in their 20s and 30s, apparently dispersed when officers arrived at the apartment at 2.50am on Saturday (13 February).
The gathering at Beetham Tower was just one of 74 incidents attended by GMP over the weekend.
Officers issued a total of 185 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) between Friday (12 February) and Sunday (14 February) – including several £800 fines after breaking up an 18th birthday party in Newton Heath and a staff party in Salford.
GMP also fined seven people in Oldham after attending a reported wedding. Some guests fled when police arrived.
More than 3,700 Fixed Penalty Notices have now been issued in Greater Manchester since 31 July 2020.
The region has one of the worst COVID breach records in England.