‘Disgusting and selfish’: Police fine four people over lockdown flat party in Manchester

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Four people who attended a “selfish” lockdown flat party have been fined by police after pictures and videos of party-goers were found on social media this weekend.

Greater Manchester Police said they were called to a property on Deansgate on Saturday morning but found no evidence of a breach of coronavirus regulations.

However, the force’s investigation later found evidence of a gathering at an apartment on Greengate in Salford, approximately 15 minutes’ walk away.

It is understood that pictures and videos from the event posted by party-goers on Instagram were reported to the police by members of the public.

The footage, seen by Manchester Evening News, reportedly showed guests popping bottles of champagne, dancing and taking selfies together in a flat.

One photo published by the newspaper also contained text showing the time of the party as 2.15am on Saturday 16 January.

“Shortly after 8.30am on Saturday 16 January police received a report of a breach of Covid regulation at a property on Deansgate,” a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said.

“Officers found no evidence of a breach at that address but their investigations established that people had gathered at an apartment on Greengate in Salford.

“Four Fixed Penalty Notices were issued to attendees of the party.”

A social media user who spotted the videos on Instagram and reported the party to the police told Manchester Evening News that they thought the event was “disgusting”.

“It's just selfish. There are people getting furloughed and losing their jobs, it is disgusting,” the person, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

“There are old people dying and they are out partying, putting it on Instagram for everyone to see.”

Greater Manchester Police said on Saturday that they had issued 110 fixed-penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches since 3pm on Friday, bringing the total number issued in the region to 2,600 since August.

Chief Inspector Carol Martin thanked the majority of people for following guidance during the pandemic but noted there was a minority “who think they are above the law”.

“It is incredibly frustrating to those abiding by the rules that some people are showing such a blatant disregard for the current regulations,” Ms Martin said.

“Not only are they putting their own lives and those of their loves ones at stake, they also risk undoing the hard work of everyone else continuing to make the necessary sacrifices at this time.”

The force also issued more than 100 fines for breaches of coronavirus regulations on New Year’s Eve, with the majority of the penalty notices given out for house parties.

Other breaches included a rave which was broken up in Wigan and large parties in Manchester City Centre, Fallowfield and Tameside.