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Police and fire service set to be drafted in to aid Test and Trace in Greater Manchester

More than 100 PCSOs and 100 fire safety officers will staff the system across the region.

The Manc The Manc - 17th September 2020

Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) and members of the fire service are set to be drafted in aid with tracing contacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases as part of new plans announced by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Andy Burnham made the announcement during his weekly virtual press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester stated that only 54% of named contacts of people who had tested positive for coronavirus were being contacted by the NHS Test and Trace system in the area, with more than 3,600 people a week believed to not be being reached.

Speaking at the virtual press conference, Mr Burnham said: “Test, trace and isolate is not working well enough for Greater Manchester at the moment and we have only a small number of weeks to fix it before we go into the really tough time which lies ahead in the autumn and into the winter.”

Mr Burnham and council leaders are reportedly not requesting any changes to local lockdown restrictions across any of the ten boroughs at present, but are instead wanting to ramp up the region’s own efforts to tackle the disease.

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The Mayor also confirmed he has written to the government and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to set out proposals for “escalating” the response to the virus in the region.

Plans include a new command centre, which would be set up with the specific task of getting through to 80% of contacts.

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Mr Burnham added: “We have agreements from Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to mobilise a number of police community support officers (PCSOs) and fire safety staff to focus their efforts on contacting the contacts that are currently not being reached in Greater Manchester by the national system.”

He said that more than 100 PCSOs and 100 fire safety officers would staff the system, which he said would not be “sustainable over the long term” but was “right to do”.

Mr Burnham said a “relentless focus” on fixing the Test and Trace scheme could prevent further restrictions.

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He continued: “It can’t be the case going forward that we fail to fix test, trace and isolate and we then just do what feels the more easy thing, just throwing blanket restrictions at people,”

“I just don’t think people will accept that.”

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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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Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hawksmoor issues statement after 'kicking out' Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants

Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.

In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.

The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.

Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”

The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”

After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.

The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.

He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.

Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.

“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.

“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.

“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.

Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.

The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.

Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.

Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.

He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.

Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.

Fundraiser launched to find missing 'beautiful soul' Adeo Alston
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP

“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.

“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.

“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”

A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.

“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”

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Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.

Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

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