‘Awful’ Northern Quarter premises shut down by police after hosting repeated ‘COVID parties’
The apartment, described by neighbours as an 'awful Airbnb party house', had allegedly hosted parties from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.
Greater Manchester Police have swooped in to shut down a premises in Northern Quarter following a long-running series of ‘COVID parties’ that have kept residents awake throughout the night.
The apartment, described by neighbours as an ‘awful Airbnb party house’, had allegedly hosted gatherings from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.
Anti-social behaviour has continued despite tighter restrictions in the Greater Manchester region, and police have now issued a closure notice – which can prohibit access to anyone except the legal owner and/or tenant.
YOU’VE BEEN SERVED! A Closure Notice has been served on a premises in the NQ that has allowed numerous COVID parties to take place, with residents and businesses having to deal with the associated ASB. Fantastic partnership working with ourselves and the Council ASBAT team. pic.twitter.com/FqkHSg5hVa
— GMP Manchester City Centre (@GMPCityCentre) August 25, 2020
GMP confirmed that the site had been shut down Tuesday (25 August) evening.
Posting on their official city centre Twitter account, police stated: “A Closure Notice has been served on a premises in the NQ that has allowed numerous COVID parties to take place, with residents and businesses having to deal with the associated ASB [anti-social behaviour].
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“Fantastic partnership working with ourselves and the Council ASBAT team.”
Mass gatherings and parties have persisted in Greater Manchester despite the ban on mass gatherings and meeting other households indoors or in gardens.
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Earlier this month, police shared footage of 200 people congregating at a property in Gorton – which was subsequently closed for three months as a result.
A fixed penalty notice was also issued to the tenant.
Huge ‘quarantine raves’ have also been organised in the likes of Daisy Nook and Carrington.
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Under new legislation, police will have the power to issue fines up to £10,000 to the organisers of any illegal parties of more than 30 people.
Those in attendance without face coverings could also be hit with penalties of £100 – doubling up to £3,200 for each repeat offence.
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The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
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Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
The Manc -
26th August 2020 
