Manchester police set to enforce penalties if parties and breaches continue this weekend
Local parties have continued despite new regulations, and Greater Manchester Police have warned they will have to start prosecuting people if more gatherings occur this weekend.
“Unfortunately, if it happens again, we’re going to have to use enforcement.”
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling’s message today was a clear one.
If parties pop up this weekend, people will be punished.
Crowds are still flocking to illegal raves despite new local regulations, and Greater Manchester Police have pledged to prosecute culprits if the gatherings continue.
“… we’ve come to a point now where they [the parties] are tying up so much police resource,” DCC Pilling told The Manc.
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“We saw more gatherings again last weekend.
“We’re trying to strike a balance between not using prosecution because I don’t want to alienate our communities.
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“I don’t want to do that, I genuinely don’t, but that’s the position we’re in.”
Huge flat party just been broken up by the police in The Lighthouse building in Northern Quarter pic.twitter.com/8rjDNRmdOV
New legislation means police can now prosecute anyone found breaking coronavirus guidelines in Manchester – with a current ban imposed on indoor and garden meetings.
“We’re sending a plea really to the great people across Greater Manchester to abide by the new restrictions that have come into place,” said DCC Pilling.
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“We understand how difficult it is. But when policing big gatherings, I have to draw a lot of officers. I’d much rather we had police on foot patrol in Wigan, Bolton, Salford and Bury, rather than be in vans ready to respond to big raves and parties.
“I’m worried about the level of resourcing going into this thing.”
There would be “fixed penalties and prosecutions against people” if parties persisted, DCC Pilling warned.
Police are also collaborating with local authorities and licensing officers in order to ensure restaurants and bars adhere to the new regulations.
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Extra officers will be ‘out in the nighttime economy’ moving forwards, and any premises found to be ‘blatantly or repeatedly’ breaching the rules will have action taken against them.
“If we don’t get on top of it, this disruption will carry on right through the autumn,” said DCC Pilling.
“It’s been hard for a good few months now. I don’t want us to let ourselves down now.
“Most people are abiding by the rules, but a sizable minority has caused us a problem.
“My appeal to them is to stop it.
“Abide and we’ll beat this thing together.”
News
Local music student issues appeal over stolen saxophones just months after graduation
Danny Jones
A local music student has issued a heartbreaking appeal after two of his saxophones, one of which possessed a deep sentimental attachment, were stolen in Manchester not long after graduating from his degree.
Conor Parker-Delves, who only recently finished his undergrad degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, has dreams of performing professionally, but a sad twist of fate now means that he’s currently without the key tool he needs to make a living.
Having worked so hard up to this point in completing his studies, the 22-year-old was left gutted when the pair of extremely valuable instruments were stolen from his car after parking it in the Longsight area.
The still green graduate believes the items were originally kept at an address just south of Whitworth Park, along with some of his other stolen belongings, which he says were nearly resold on the high street in Moss Side.
Credit: Handouts (via Conor Parker-Delves)
What’s more is that one of these saxes belonged to his late granddad on his mother’s side, who sadly died when he was very young, and he’s been proudly playing it throughout his childhood. A gut-wrenching loss not just for him but for his family.
Speaking to The Manc, he said: “I have played on that sax ever since his passing and have kept the legacy alive. Losing this sax means losing him, and I am going to fight against this as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
A worn silver Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone (serial number: 240580) and a tenor sax of the same brand (SN: 91928) are estimated to be worth a combined £12,000 – funds a fresh graduate like Conor simply doesn’t have.
Given the connection to his grandad, it’s safe to say that he’s not ready to give up and say goodbye to the priceless heirloom, and being stuck without any means of playing is just cruel.
Unfortunately, Greater Manchester Police have already closed the case despite a “promising lead” that looks to have been exhausted, and now he’s been left with no other option than to issue a renewed appeal to the public.
It may only be a slim chance, but the London-born aspiring musician is hoping that the woodwind duo can be recovered, acknowledging that it is “much easier for the saxes to be handed in if they are come across” rather than be replaced.
Things are hard enough for artists these days as it is, especially those who have already spent their time and money uprooting their lives and moving to a big new city like Manchester.
We encourage anyone with any potentially useful information to get in touch and/or report to GMP online, via the non-emergency 101 number, or get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously.
Fingers crossed we can get the tools of Conor’s craft and his grandfather’s before him back safe and sound – can you help?
England given potential advantage against Norway after reports of illness in World Cup camp
Danny Jones
England may have just been given a potential advantage ahead of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Norway, as it’s said that multiple players have been feeling sick of late.
Now, we’d never wish illness upon anyone… BUT, you certainly won’t hear us complaining about this one.
Yes, according to head coach Ståle Solbakken, some of his teammates haven’t been at their best over the last few days, but he has assured supporters that everyone is recovering well.
Speaking to the media before the upcoming clash, the manager said: “We’ve really only had Jorgen [Strand Larsen of Crystal Palace] who has had a fever, but then there’s been a bit of coughing and rasping scattered throughout [the national squad].”
He’s also admitted the Three Lions will be a tough challenge.
However, the initially reported ‘sickness bug’ is now being played down, with Solbakken noting that with his wider travelling camp having to contend with temperatures, altitude, air conditioning, flights, “changing rooms and all that […] it would be strange if something or other didn’t crop up.”
So, while it may have been exaggerated to a degree, they’ve certainly not been 100%.
The Scandinavian outfit are based at a training complex in Greensboro, North Carolina for this year’s World Cup – their first in nearly three decades – and have had to fly all across the United States for their matches in Boston, New York and Dallas thus far.
Once again, though, even the team doctor has told Norwegian press that the claims have been blown out of proportion, citing “very little fuss considering that we have been close together for almost six weeks”, and insisting that “all players are healthy now”.
Even James Corden was quizzing the opposition on the claims ahead of the fixture:
When asked about the truth in the headlines by domestic news outlet Nettavisen, he even went on to add: “So great that they believe this. We are in control.”
So perhaps there is a bit of sensationalism and/or gamesmanship at work, but that won’t stop us from hoping for a second that there’s even a shred of weakness to be capitalised on.
It remains to be seen just what condition both teams are in after the respective round of 16 thrillers – especially Thomas Tuchel’s side, who had to do it the hard way with 10 men against Mexico in that exhausting first knockout tie – but we’ll take whatever glimmer of hope we can that luck is on our side.
And regardless, it’s given England fans online plenty of material to have some fun with ahead of what is no doubt set to be another very long and stressful night this weekend.
The Manc -
6th August 2020 
