Police crack down on illegal parties as revellers hit the town for boozy celebrations with little sign of social distancing before tough new ‘rule of six’ comes into force on Monday

• Police shut down house parties in Altrincham, Stockport, Flixton, in Greater Manchester, and in Nottingham 
• Revellers flocked to bars and restaurants across the country tonight ahead of new coronavirus ‘rule of six’
• New measures banning groups of more than six will come into force from Monday with fines of up to £3,200
• Boris Johnson announced the strict new measure as a study found the ‘R’ rate in England could be high as 1.7

Police across Britain last night launched a crack down on illegal parties as revellers hit the town for boozy celebrations before the government’s tough new ‘rule of six’ comes into force.

Officers broke up house parties in Altrincham, Stockport and Flixton, all in Greater Manchester, on Saturday night, while police in Nottingham tackled a 50 person gathering in Lenton.

In the largest gathering said to have been broken up by officers last night, a team from Greater Manchester Police dispersed around 70 party-goers from a house in Mottram.

The crackdown came as revellers up and down the country hit the streets for a last hurrah before the government’s new rule limiting the number of people in gatherings to six comes into play on Monday.

With little sign of social distancing, large groups of drinkers gathered at bars and restaurants in London, Nottingham, Manchester, Portsmouth and Leeds last night and into the early hours of this morning to take advantage of their last few hours of freedom before the government tightens lockdown restrictions again. 

In London’s West End, hundreds of drinkers could be seen singing along and dancing as a busker played a tune, with very few revellers paying attention to the government’s social distancing measures.  

Under Boris Johnson’s strict new measures, groups of more than six can be broken up by police who will be able to hand out £100 fines to those who flout the rules.

This will double on each repeat offence up to £3,200 and only schools, workplaces and a limited number of other locations will be exempt.

The move, introduced to tackle the rising spread of coronavirus, comes as a Government-led study yesterday suggested the reproduction ‘R’ rate could be as high as 1.7 in England. 

Tim Robson, the North East’s representative on the national Pubwatch scheme, expected police officers would strictly monitor bars over the weekend to ensure they are operating safely.

GREATER MANCHESTER: Revellers were seen not to be socially distancing as the police made a heavy presence across Manchester as party-goers let loose ahead of the new restrictions being introduced on Monday

NOTTINGHAM: Police broke up a house party in Harlaxton Drive in Lenton, Nottingham, at around 7pm on Friday as officers launched a crackdown ahead of changes to rules

LONDON: People are seen dancing to a busker in Leicester Square tonight in London, England. From Monday, September 14, groups of more than six will be banned from meeting under new coronavirus restrictions

LONDON: People are seen dancing to a keyboard player’s music in Leicester Square on Saturday night ahead of Monday’s rule changes

LONDON: General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho, in London’s West End. People have been warned against having a ‘party weekend’ as a former chief scientific adviser said the UK is ‘on the edge of losing control’ of coronavirus

NOTTINGHAM: Revellers flock to city centre bars to enjoy a night out before coronavirus rules change on Monday

MANCHESTER: Drinkers flock to bars and restaurants in Manchester to enjoy a night out before lockdown restrictions are tightened on Monday 

PORTSMOUTH: Hundreds of people enjoy a Saturday night on the town in the pubs and bars in Guildhall Walk in Portsmouth, Hampshire

LEEDS: Revellers hit the bars in Leeds tonight before tougher new ‘rule of six’ comes into force from Monday 

NEWCASTLE: A group of girls hit the town in Newcastle on Friday night ahead of the new rules, as the northern city is also put on a watch list as Covid-19 cases rise dramatically in the area

He said: ‘There is an anticipation that everyone is going to have a big last binge, but people are starting to get fearful and a lot of licensed premises have already been clamped down on by the police.’

Mr Robson, a former police officer, said it will be up to licensees to manage their premises and break up large groups from gathering together unsafely.

He added: ‘There may be a rise in groups going out this weekend, but it will be probably to premises who don’t have door supervision and control.’

Meanwhile Newcastle upon Tyne’s director of public health Eugene Milne has said he did not think large numbers of people would go out for a big binge ahead of the tighter controls coming in. 

He told Tyne Tees TV News: ‘At the opening of lockdown there was a real fear that that might happen in the city, and that didn’t happen so I think we can trust people.

‘The idea of the rule of six is to make it easier for people to know how to stick with the guidance and I think one of the big problems has been the guidance has progressively got so complicated, so specific to particular areas, that it becomes very confusing for everybody.’

GREATER MANCHESTER: Revellers enjoy a night out ahead of the new Covid restrictions across Greater Manchester as the ‘rule of six’ comes into force on Monday

PORTSMOUTH: Hundreds of people enjoyed a Saturday night on the town in the pubs ad bars in Guildhall Walk in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Many were in groups of more than six people, which will be banned from Monday

PORTSMOUTH: A group of people enjoy a night out on Saturday at Guildhall Walk in Portsmouth, Hampshire, before the new restrictions are introduced on Monday

MANCHESTER: Drinkers crowd outside the packed Paramount Wetherspoons in Manchester tonight before new lockdown restrictions are introduced on Monday 

LEEDS: Revellers hit the streets in Leeds tonight for one last night of freedom before tougher new coronavirus lockdown measures come into force from Monday 

MANCHESTER: One reveller rests her head on a concrete wall in Manchester as other revellers stand around in the streets of Manchester

NEWCASTLE: Revellers enjoy a night out on the town on Friday night as the government prepares to bring in new rules limiting the number of people in groups to six

LEEDS: Meanwhile, in Leeds, Yorkshire, two women also enjoy a final night of freedom ahead of new lockdown rules

NEWCASTLE: A woman gets a piggie-back from a fellow reveller as partygoers celebrate on Friday night going into Saturday morning 

LEEDS: Two woman walk through the streets of Leeds on Satudray night as people flocked to bars ahead of new social distancing rules

PORTSMOUTH: Hundreds of people enjoy a Saturday night on the town at the pubs and bars on Guildhall Walk in Portsmouth, Hampshire

LONDON: General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho, in London’s West End tonight, before new lockdown measures are introduced on Monday 

LONDON: In Soho people took to the streets of the city’s famous nightlife hot-spot to enjoy one last night of freedom on Saturday night

LONDON: Two woman are seen dancing in Soho in London as hundreds headed to the city’s famous nightlife district on Saturday night

GREATER MANCHESTER: Police make a heavy presence across Greater Manchester this weekend as revellers were seen not to be socially distancing

GREATER MANCHESTER: Police chat to revellers in the streets of Greater Manchester on Saturday night, with new restrictions on social gatherings coming in from Monday

GREATER MANCHESTER: Revellers were seen not to be socially distancing in Greater Manchester as the police made a heavy presence across the city

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the spike in infections justifies the Government’s new ‘rule of six’, warning people ‘the pandemic is not over’. 

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove today urged people to act ‘in tune with’ the rules this weekend ahead of the ‘rule of six’ coming into force or risk increasing the rate of spread of coronavirus.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘If people do behave in a way that is not really in line or in tune with the guidelines that have been put out then they are putting other people at risk.

‘The reason why the country’s police chiefs have said that they hope people behave with appropriate restraint this weekend is we do not want to see a further acceleration of the spread of the virus.’

LONDON: People are seen dancing to a busker’s music in Leicester Square in London on Saturday night ahead of the new rules

LONDON: Members of the public spend a night out in Central London, Britain tonight. The British government is due to implement new restrictions banning gatherings of six people from Monday 

LONDON: Revellers are seen partying in the streets of Soho in London ahead of plans to bring in a ban on meetings of groups of more than six

LONDON: Groups of men and women crowd into the streets of Soho for one last night of freedom ahead of a change in social distancing rules

LONDON: Musicians with drums were also seen playing to crowds of people in the streets of Soho on the country’s last night of freedom

LONDON: Members of the public spend a night out in Central London, Britain tonight. The British government is due to implement new restrictions banning gatherings of six people from Monday

LEEDS: In Leeds a busker attracted a group of around 50 people who celebrated and cheered as the musician played in the street

LEEDS: A group of four revellers hold hands and link arms round each others shoulders on the last hurrah before new rules are introduced

LONDON: Members of the public spend a night out in Central London, Britain tonight. The British government is due to implement new restrictions banning gatherings of six people from Monday

MANCHESTER: A large number of people queue to enter the Dirty Martini bar in Manchester on Saturday night 

He denied that the Government was losing control of Covid-19. ‘No. I don’t accept that,’ he said.  

Mr Gove also rubbished claims that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s hugely popular Eat Out To Help Out programme contributed to the spread of coronavirus, and said fines could be necessary in order to enforce self-isolation rules.

Speaking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, he said: ‘We’re not saying people shouldn’t see their friends but there does need to be a degree of self-discipline, of restriction to deal with the challenges we are facing.’

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also responded to criticism of the Government’s anti-Covid crackdown, saying people can only have freedom if it is exercised ‘responsibly’.  

NOTTINGHAM: Revellers flock to city centre bars to enjoy a night out before coronavirus rules change on Monday. Crowds of people flocked to bars and pubs in the city. Long queues were seen outside a number of bars with social distancing at a minimum

LONDON: People enjoying a night out in Leicester Square in London’s West End ahead of new social distancing rules coming in

NOTTINGHAM: Revellers flock to city centre bars to enjoy a night out before coronavirus rules change on Monday

LEEDS: A woman is given a piggie-back across in a road in Leeds, Yorkshire, as people enjoy a final hurrah on the last weekend before rule changes

LONDON: General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho, in London’s West End, shortly after being warned not to have a ‘party weekend’ by scientific advisers 

LEEDS: Revellers hit the town in Leeds on the last weekend before the government’s tough new ‘rule of six’ comes into force 

LEEDS: A group of women in Leeds, Yorkshire, hit the two on the final night of freedom before new rules are introduced for social distancing

LEEDS: Revellers take to the town in Leeds for one final hurrah for now as new social distancing restrictions come into place on Monday

LONDON: General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho, in London’s West End as people have been warned against having a ‘party weekend

LEEDS: A group of people head to a bar in Leeds, Yorkshire as the UK heads for new rules banning groups of more than six people from gathering

‘I don’t want to see fines being levied but even more I do not want to see people behaving in a way that puts the most vulnerable at risk,’ Mr Gove told the Today programme this morning. ‘Well there are restrictions, and I love freedom, but the one thing I think is even more important is that you exercise freedom with responsibility. 

Student, 19, who threw house party for 50 people that saw him fined £10,000 apologises

By Raven Saunt 

A 19-year-old student, who threw house party for 50 people that saw him fined £10,000, has apologised after claiming he ‘only’ invited 25 people but things ‘got out of hand’.

The teenage host had become ‘hostile’ when council community protection officers were called to the house in Harlaxton Drive in Lenton, Nottingham, at around 7pm on Friday.

Police were called a short time later and found around 50 people at the address, which is close to the university, who were all ordered to leave.

Officers claim the young man was given the chance to shut down Friday’s party before he was issued with the hefty fine.

He has since apologised for his actions but refused to say whether he will pay or appeal the fine, or who will end up picking up the tab, if the appeal is unsuccessful.

The fine comes just days before new rules come in force whereby only six people can meet at any one time.

There are currently six students living at the property who did not wish to be identified.

But, speaking after the incident, one said: ‘It was meant to be a small gathering with mates and it got out of hand.

‘We had invited 25 people and it was out in the garden and aimed to end at 11pm and we were trying to social distance but then people invited their mates and so on.

‘It got out of hand and we are really sorry.’

Police said if he fails to pay or contests the fine he will appear before a court. 

‘When you are exercising freedom, you should do so in a way that does not do harm to others.’   

As people gathered in the streets to party, Greater Manchester Police said they closed down illegal gatherings at properties in Altrincham and Flixton on Saturday night, as well as a large gathering of around 70 people in Mottram.

Fixed penalty notices were issued at each of the incidents as current rules only allow groups of up to 30 to meet.

The interventions came just hours after officers attended a gathering at an address in Stockport which had 45 people in attendance, and another address in north Manchester which they had been called to on two previous occasions.

Earlier, Nottinghamshire Police issued a teenager with a £10,000 fine for hosting a house party in Lenton, which saw more than 50 guests gather at a home on Harlaxton Drive.

The force said if the 19-year-old man fails to pay or contests the fine he will appear before a court.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, from Nottinghamshire Police, warned anyone thinking of hosting parties ahead of the changes on Monday – when social gatherings in England will be limited to groups of six people both indoors and outdoors – to think again or face the consequences.

He said: ‘We need to all remember we are very much still in the middle of a global pandemic and we all need to take responsibility for our actions.

‘I want to send out a clear message to anyone who is thinking of deliberately hosting parties tonight or tomorrow night ahead of the rules changing to please not do this.

‘We are not afraid to use the full powers we have and we will not tolerate those who are deliberately putting other people’s lives in danger.’

As hundreds of Britons enjoyed a final weekend of freedom, police bosses urged people to look after each other and avoid a ‘party weekend’ before the restrictions are implemented.

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: ‘There is a real risk some members of the public will take advantage of the current situation and treat this weekend as a party weekend ahead of the tighter restrictions being introduced on Monday.

‘Alcohol and warm weather are not a good combination at the best of times. Using the current situation as an opportunity and excuse to party would be incredibly irresponsible and put pressure not only on policing, but potentially on the ambulance service and NHS.

‘We are in the grip of a deadly pandemic and we have seen cases increasing over recent weeks. Policing is under pressure like never before, but my colleagues will give enforcement notices if they feel it’s appropriate, and we make no apology for doing so.’ 

LONDON: Revellers enjoy a night of freedom in Soho tonight ahead of the government’s new rule of six which comes into force from Monday 

LONDON: Large crowds gathered around a keyboard player in London’s popular Leicester Square on Saturday, September 12

LONDON: A couple wearing masks are seen in front of crowds on Saturday, September 12,  in London, England ahead of the rule changes

LONDON: People are seen eating and drinking at seats in the street outside a restaurant in the capital, as a sign warns of temporary Covid-19 restrictions

LONDON: Groups sit at tables in London’s Soho district on Saturday night. The area is popular among revellers in the capital

LONDON: Revellers walk through London’s Chinatown in the city’s West End as people enjoy one last night of freedom in the capital

LONDON: Revellers enjoy a night of freedom in Soho tonight ahead of the government’s new rule of six which comes into force from Monday

LONDON: Earlier in the day groups of people had met around tables in the streets of Soho in London ahead of new rules limiting gatherings to six

LONDON: Groups of people met and sat around tables in London’s Soho district to enjoy a drink in the streets of the popular nightlife hot-spot

LONDON: A group of people wearing tour headphones and some with cans of drink walk through London on Saturday

Elsewhere, would-be revellers were encouraged to stay home as Birmingham became the latest city to be hit with localised lockdown rules after the number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospitals doubled in a week. 

From Tuesday, more than 1.5million people in Birmingham and neighbouring Solihull and Sandwell will be banned from mixing with anyone outside of their own household in private homes, pubs, restaurants or in gardens.

Yesterday, police officers told the Telegraph they fear Britain will resemble the ‘last days of Rome’ after this weekend amid a storm of decadent planned pre-lockdown parties.  

One officer, based in the north east of England, said: ‘We are worried this weekend is going to be like the last days of Rome.  

‘If people think they are not going to be allowed to go out and enjoy themselves for the next few months, they are going to go crazy and we will be left picking up the pieces.’

Britons have promised to run riot and enjoy one last knees-up with friends before Mr Johnson’s stringent new coronavirus restrictions come into force.  

Many are having to cancel parties after warnings of a rapid increase in infections among people in their teens, 20s and 30s – but fears have risen that some will take the weekend as an opportunity to run wild despite the ongoing pandemic.

A senior officer said they were not sure if police had the resources to meet the challenge of thousands of people ignoring restrictions this weekend.   

Chairman of the Police Federation in West Yorkshire, Brian Booth, added officers were ‘flat out again doing the everyday things such as dealing with stabbings, shootings, drug dealers, missing people etc’. 

‘If we are going to be asked to focus on enforcement, something else will have to give,’ he said.       

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