Greater Manchester Police broke up a child’s birthday party

[Redolent]

They’ve been busy recently...

#UPDATE | Officers attended a property in #Swinton where 3 families were celebrating a child's birthday in a private garden. The homeowner has been issued with a fixed penalty notice.

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The rest of their Twitter exploits:

mobile.twitter.com/gmpolice

Draconian or justified?

3 families? Hardly a rave. I don't have time for neighbours gestapo-like reporting their neighbours for violations.

Totally justified. We have enhanced restrictions here. We wouldn't need them if people stopped gathering in large groups and spreading the virus. Their child's birthday is no more important than everyone else's who have missed out.

The rules are rules but what really makes me angry is EVERY pub & restaurant is breaking the rules, allowing multi households to book & socialise. Yet we are expected to turn a blind eye. But a kids birthday party, the police find the time to turn up. 😤

Does it matter whether it's 3 families or 12? Still not allowed whichever! Those who say it doesn't matter and that the child's birthday party was ruined are idiots. The rules are clear in greater Manchester. Those who don't follow them will be the first to kick off if restrictions get tougher. What is it about exponential growth that people do not get? Why would you take the risk? You could kill someone by passing on the virus even if you are perfectly well with it. I've had two primary school kids with birthdays in lockdown and resisted the need for a party involving others. People using bullshit excuses about others breaking the rules so they can justify their own actions

I think the police have a dedicated lockdown breach team. They are targeting breaches because Gm is facing a more strict lockdown if things don’t calm down. No one wants that.

Pathetic how pleased people are over this family getting fined. Get a grip. The government need to get a move on to get cancer patients back in the system and stop faffing around wasting police resources

@KitKatastrophe

The worst thing about this is some smug neighbour patting themselves on the back for dobbing in their neighbour and ruining a kids birthday. I bet they're really proud of themselves 👏👏👏

Well if I was following the rules in a high risk area and having restrictions placed on my life due to the actions of others - then I'd make sure they stopped.

So - if it's in a lockdown area, it's a no shit, Sherlock outcome really if you're daft enough to meet up and have parties?
What is it people don't get?
It's not rocket science.

I’m not pleased, just pissed off with people. I live in GM area and really want us to avoid a tougher lockdown. It’s a real possibility at the moment.

Draconian and horrifying overreaction. Covid is eighth on the list of things that are killing people.When this sort of thing is finally exposed as being so unnecessary, I hope people can forgive each other.

Good.

3 families is likely birthday child's family and both sets of grandparents :(

Big spike in new cases yet Zero rise in hospital admissions. In fact we’re actually at the lowest it’s ever been for COVID. 500 out of 55 MILLION.

Weird.

StealthPolarBear yep. I actually feel really sad thinking about this

Maybe it is, Stealth but I didn't think 'oh it's easier to break the rules' with DD2. I arranged to see people at different times/days so that only 2 families were meeting at a time. I live in a low Covid risk area, but it's the right thing to do, IMO.

Not weird. More cases among younger people. More testing amomg younger people. Vulnerable people have either died already or have escaped it. Some are still avoiding putting themselves at risk.

Clearly they've got no actual crimes to attend to.... I mean, that's blatantly not true but Its insulting to victims of actual crime.

I don't disagree I'm really torn on this but am a rule follower by nature. But when you read 'party' you think large gathering. Both sets of grandparents was the bare minimum for my children as toddlers and I'm sad others are missing out.

@OhhhPeee

Whilst I don’t object to them breaking up the party, I live in the area and am aghast that this is what they’re choosing to put their resources into. Our local online forums are inundated with CCTV footage of scumbags trying to break into cars/homes. People report the burglaries and are just given a crime number over the phone - no one will come out, even if there’s CCTV footage.

The pavements on nearby Monton high street are overflowing with drinkers every day - no distancing, no masks, but that’s ok, because money is going into the economy. If these families had met up in a crowded pavement beer garden with a load of strangers that would be absolutely fine. It makes no sense!

It makes perfect sense. The police are tackling easy targets. It's not going to take much to go wrong very quickly. They haven't got the consent and support of a lot of people now.

They could have had a quiet word
They didn't need to fine them

Easy pickings/trying to look like they are doing something useful

@KitKatastrophe

The worst thing about this is some smug neighbour patting themselves on the back for dobbing in their neighbour and ruining a kids birthday. I bet they're really proud of themselves 👏👏👏

So they should be. This is a matter of national defence.

National defence dear fucking me.

@Hyperfish101

Not weird. More cases among younger people. More testing amomg younger people. Vulnerable people have either died already or have escaped it. Some are still avoiding putting themselves at risk.

Two people died yesterday of COVID. More people died of cancer.

We’ve now got to start putting it in to perspective.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

National defence dear fucking me.

I know. Some people are clearly loving this.

This is crazy. We've all gone crazy