Police issued over 100 fines for COVID regulation breaches this weekend
Local police issued 110 fines to people flouting lockdown rules this weekend - with offences ranging from flat parties to travelling dozens of miles for fast food.
Local police issued 110 fines to people flouting lockdown rules this weekend – with offences ranging from flat parties to travelling dozens of miles for fast food.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that 16 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued to attendees of a house party on Peregrine Street in Hulme on Saturday (January 16).
On the same night, a further 27 fines were distributed at an address on Greengate in Salford, with officers also dispersing a crowd of over 40 people at a flat on Derby Street in Cheetham Hill.
Four FPNs were also issued to the passengers of a vehicle travelling from Preston to Bolton to collect a takeaway.
Since August, GMP have distributed over 2,600 fines for COVID breaches.
Chief Inspector Carol Martin of GMP’s COVID response team said the instances of “blatant disregard” for the rules were “incredibly frustrating.”
“Not only are they putting their own lives and those of their loves [sic] ones at stake, they also risk undoing the hard work of everyone else continuing to make the necessary sacrifices at this time,” said the CI.
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“We would like to reassure people that dedicated teams of officers are responding to reports of non-compliance and are continuing to follow the national lead by engaging with members of the public, explaining the law and encouraging compliance, but our officers will not hesitate to take enforcement action if people are found to be flouting the rules.”
A group of friends from Manchester were also fined £200 each over the weekend after driving to Staffordshire for a McDonald’s.
The occupants – who all reside at different addresses – were issued with individual penalties for travelling outside of their local area.
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Staffordshire Police confirmed they had stopped the vehicle of friends at the fast food restaurant on the A50 near Uttoxeter – roughly 68 miles from Manchester.
The force tweeted: “Group of friends from Manchester area not having legitimate reasons to be here other than going to McDonalds!”
Officers added: “Please stay at home unless necessary!”
National lockdown regulations state that people must not leave their homes unless they have a reasonable excuse to do so – such as for work or education purposes.
The government has also stated that anyone who needs to travel “should stay local” – which means avoiding travelling outside of their own village, town or the part of a city where they live.
News
Starmer: Burnham ‘free to stand’ after his term as Mayor as 50 MPs object to by-election block
Danny Jones
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham is more than welcome to run for Parliament after his present term as Mayor.
This comes after Burnham was reportedly ‘blocked’ from running for the currently vacant local seat in Gorton and Denton.
However, the Prime Minister insists the block was simply an attempt to protect the party, arguing that it would have diverted focus and resources away from other issues, whilst insisting that what Burnham does after his run as the region’s mayor is “a matter for Andy”.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE
This is the letter Labour activists in Gorton and Denton are sending to Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood
They are demanding the NEC reverses its decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the by-election in their seat
As per The Telegraph, Starmer went on to add that he believes his former colleague (the PM worked under Burnham back in 2015) is doing “a first-class job” in local government.
The 56-year-old was first elected Mayor for Greater Manchester back in 2017 before winning re-election back in both 2021 and May of 2024.
His current tenure is set to end around the same time in 2028, but with many touting for the ‘King of the North’ as a potential leadership replacement ahead of the next general election – which must take place no later than 15 August 2029 – a prospective return to Parliament could be next on the cards.
Those who signed the letter going against Keir stated that he had “no legitimate reason” to prevent such a move against Burnham and said that Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), should reassess and ultimately reconsider.
It remains to be seen whether the outcome will change either way.
The internal saga has sparked quite the debate
As for the Aintree-born politician, after already admitting that he was “disappointed” by the decision, he also rubbished suggestions that he knew about the move to block him prior to the event, calling the reports “completely untrue” and simply made no sense.
Following up in another post on social media, he shared the latest update from Downing Street itself, which reads: “No one in Number 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision.”
Once again, only time will tell whether or not the letter objecting to Burnham’s return to standing for a constituency or any other Parliamentary role will see any watershed.
Police appeal after Salford woman, 95, threatened by window cleaner in her own home
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information after an elderly woman was threatened inside her own home during an attempted robbery.
Around 11am yesterday morning (27 January), officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Salford division responded to reports that a woman had cash demanded from her at an address on Belcroft Drive in Little Hulton.
It is believed that a man entered the property after offering to clean the woman’s – who police have confirmed is 95-years-old – windows, before tying her hands together, and then demanding her cash and purse.
The man’s efforts were disrupted when another woman who knew the victim arrived at the house, and thankfully because of this, no injuries were reported and the victim is being supported by officers.
The man fled the scene, and no arrests have been made at this time.
This is why police are now appealing to the public for any information that they may have that could help with their investigation while extensive enquires are ongoing – including any CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from around the area at the time.
Investigators attended the scene and gathered evidence, which is currently being assessed and acted upon, but are also keen to speak to anyone who saw anything ‘suspicious’.
The man who committed the offence was described as white male, approximately in his late 60s or early 70s, with short mousy brown hair combed back, no facial hair, glasses, appeared well-kempt, and was wearing a dark raincoat jacket, jeans, and dark-coloured shoes.
“This was a vile incident in which a woman was tied up and threatened, and we are determined to locate the man responsible,” commented Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from GMP’s Salford district.
“Thankfully, this was not a more serious situation and we commend the brave actions of the lady’s friend who confronted the man and called officers. As we progress this investigation, we are appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1082 of 27/01/26, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
18th January 2021 
