Police struggle to contain illegal Manchester street party 'blatantly flouting' the local lockdown to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day

A group of heavily-outnumbered police officers fled a mob of hundreds of revellers attending an illegal party celebrating Pakistan Independence Day in locked-down Manchester.

Party goers gathered in Manchester's so-called 'Curry Mile' on Friday night, in breach of the city's reinforced lockdown rules which restrict outdoor gatherings to up to six people with social distancing enforced.

Police were eventually able to clear crowds after shutting the road - but not before hoards of revellers surrounded a line of officers from all angles while hurling abuse and chanting 'Pakistan'.

The illegal gathering sparked outrage from police and politicians alike.

Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan said he is 'disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour' and said revellers 'should be ashamed'. 

Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling slammed the street party as 'beyond comprehension' and said he had 'never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour' in his 30 years of policing. 

Detective Chief Inspector Carol Hobson said 'it is really disappointing to see behaviour of this type' in the middle of a pandemic.

Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan said he is 'disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour' and said revellers 'should be ashamed'. 

In the clip, several men crowded a female officer and shouted in her face before she was briefly separated from her colleagues.

Officers then closed ranks and forced the crowd back, as the policewoman held her hands up calling for calm. 

A group of heavily-outnumbered police officers fled a mob (pictured) after failing to break up an illegal party celebrating Pakistan Independence Day in locked-down Manchester

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Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Gorton, also slammed the celebrations on Twitter

Asian Brits are up to FIVE times more likely to catch coronavirus than white people, official data reveals 

By Stephen Matthews Health Editor For Mailonline and Connor Boyd Health Reporter For Mailonline 

Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people, according to data from a government-run surveillance scheme.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report released today revealed seven out of 1,510 Brits identifying as Asian swabbed positive for Covid-19 — a rate of around 0.46 per cent.

For comparison, the rate was 0.12 per cent for white people. The ONS concluded the risk was slightly higher than the percentage difference and that Asians were 4.8 times more likely to test positive.

No cases were diagnosed in any other ethnic groups in England between June 8 and August 2, which is when the data relates to. But the body claimed black Britons were twice as likely to be diagnosed, based on older figures.  

Results of antibody tests — which tell if someone has had the disease in the past — showed a similar discrepancy between ethnicity, with just 4.8 per cent of white people testing positive for the substances. In comparison, the rate was around 10.8 per cent for Asians and 9.5 per cent for Black Britons. 

Numerous reports have found black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain face a higher risk of dying if they catch coronavirus than white people. 

Experts can't pinpoint exactly why this is the case, but it could be down to the fact ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor, use public transport more often and work in public-facing jobs - all three of which make them more prone to interacting with strangers and catching the disease. 

It comes after local public health officials in swathes of locked-down parts of northern England revealed that South Asian communities were being disproportionately infected. 

Oldham, the UK's current coronavirus hotspot, had to rollback lockdown restrictions last week after a huge spike among its Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. Arooj Shah, deputy leader of Oldham Council, said these groups account for up to two thirds of overall new cases in the Manchester town. Eighty-five per cent of new Covid-19 infections in Blackburn with Darwen - which has also had to retreat back into a tougher lockdown - have been among people from South Asian heritage.

Epidemiologists have previously told MailOnline that some communities which do not speak English as their first language were not following social distancing rules as stringently because public health messaging was not reaching them.

Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, and Gabriel Scally, professor of public health at the university of Bristol, said there had been a 'breakdown in communication' and that 'language barriers were certainly an issue'.

The officers are surrounded on all sides by the mob - some of whom grin amid the chaos - who continue to jostle with each other.

As the sound of air horns blare in the background, chants of 'Pakistan' and what appears to be 'England' ring out from the group.

As the shouts continue, the police begin to withdraw with one officer grabbing the female police officer by the arm and pulling her away.

The crowd jeers as the police hound them off the road.

Police eventually broke up the gathering and no arrests were made.

In other developments to the coronavirus crisis in Britain today: 

• Britain today recorded another 1,089 coronavirus cases, meaning the rolling average number of daily infections has dropped for the third day in a row; 
• Leicester will be brought partially out of its coronavirus local lockdown, with nail bars, outdoor pools, and beauty salons all allowed to reopen from tomorrow;
• Herd immunity against coronavirus could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent of people may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out, experts say;
• Nearly three-quarters of coronavirus-infected people have no symptoms on the day they are tested for the disease, government data has revealed;
• Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people, according to data from a government-run surveillance scheme ran by the Office for National Statistics. 

Lockdown restrictions on social gatherings remain in Greater Manchester and some parts of northern England - despite measures being relaxed elsewhere in the country.

The extra rules were enforced on July 31 following a local spike in Covid-19 cases. 

Greater Manchester Police said it had received 2,459 emergency calls on Friday, compared to 1,590 on the same day last year. 

Detective Chief Inspector Carol Hobson said: 'It is really disappointing to see behaviour of this type whilst we, as a community, are trying to combat coronavirus and keep each other safe.

'Friday night is one of the busiest in terms of demand on the police service and incidents like this one pull invaluable resources away from other people who may need the police more desperately. These blatant breaches slow us down.'

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling added: 'I can honestly say that in 30 years of policing I have never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour.

'Quite frankly, it is beyond comprehension and I am incredibly disappointed that people feel they can gather in this way - blatantly flouting the rules.'

Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Gorton, also slammed the celebrations on Twitter.

He wrote: 'Disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour on Wilmslow Road last night.

'Not only is antisocial behaviour of this kind deeply disrespectful to Rusholme residents, ignoring the Covid-19 regulations puts us all at risk.

'To those who came from outside Manchester, knowing full well the Covid situation across our region, your choice to visit Rusholme last night increases the danger of spreading the virus further here and at your home.

'You should be ashamed - you have put your loved ones at risk.' 

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: 'On the evening of Friday 14 August, police attended areas of Wilmslow Road in Rusholme after reports of traffic issues and concerns regarding social distancing. 

'The area was heavily congested with pedestrians congregating in large groups and numerous vehicles driving up and down the main road in an unsafe manner. 

'On police attendance, it was necessary for the local officers to put road closures in place, to prevent access to vehicles along Wilmslow Road for the safety of the public. 

'Officers also engaged with members of the public, encouraging people to disperse.

'Officers also engaged with businesses, who were encouraged to consider temporarily closing until the situation became more manageable. 

'GMP worked closely with a local councillor in order to engage with the community. No arrests were made.'

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The officers are surrounded on all sides by the mob - some of whom grin amid the chaos - who continue to jostle with each other

Meanwhile, a gathering involving hundreds of people was also seen in east London on Pakistan Independence Day - with footage showing crowds of people on the street

Meanwhile, a gathering involving hundreds of people was also seen in east London on Pakistan Independence Day - with footage showing crowds of people on the street.

Local councillor Kam Rai told the Evening Standard: 'I am fed up of people who think social distancing and wearing face coverings do not apply to them when it’s something they want to do.

'Let me be clear: the risk has not gone away and the disease is still deadly.' 

The street party came just one day before hundreds of revellers were caught partying inside a gazebo during an illegal lockdown party in Manchester where police officers were pelted with missiles.

Shocking footage caught on Snapchat shows the ravers flouting social distancing measures as they attended the illegal rave in Gorton on August 15. 

Following the incident, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a woman, who they believe to be the party 'organiser', was slammed with a £100 penalty fine. 

Hundreds of revellers (left and right) were filmed dancing at an illegal lockdown party in Gorton, Manchester, on August 15 

During the footage, hundreds of people dance to the loud music with drinks in their hands and defy social distancing measures.

Officers arrived to the scene after receiving numerous complaints from residents on the street.  

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling later told Manchester Evening News that the footage was now being reviewed by police.

He added that while officers did not break up the mass gathering by force due to being hit with missiles, they did stop others from joining the party and also issued an anti-social behaviour closure notice.

 

Workers spray down venue where police raided 100-strong wedding reception held in spite of Covid lockdown rules

By James Robinson and Kate Dennett For Mailonline 

Workers have today sprayed down a venue which was raided by police after more than 100 people gathered to celebrate a local lockdown-breaching wedding reception.

Officers broke up the event at Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall in Blackburn on Sunday, which breached strict local lockdown rules banning large gatherings.

Police chiefs later slammed the event as a 'significant breach' of restrictions that put people 'at risk'. 

Today bosses at Waheed's posted a video of a hazmat suited worker spraying down chairs and tables at the venue - described on its own website as an Indian fine-dinning restaurant and wedding reception venue.

The venue also faces possible action from police and bosses at Darwen Borough Council looking to see what measures might be appropriate considering the large breach. 

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Officers broke up the event at Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall in Blackburn on Sunday, which breached strict local lockdown rules banning large gatherings

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Police chiefs later slammed the event as a 'significant breach' of restrictions that put people 'at risk'. Waheed's posted a video on its Facebook page of the venue being cleaned today 

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Today bosses at Waheed's posted a video of a hazmat suited worker spraying down chairs and tables at the venue - described on its own website as an Indian fine-dinning restaurant and wedding reception venue.Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, from Lancashire Police, today told BBC Radio Lancashire: 'The event was at a premises called Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall on Randall Street, in Blackburn.

'We attended there and we found between 100 and 120 people, we think, who admitted with the owners of that place that it was a wedding reception.

'As we've said all along, we will enforce and we did. The vast bulk of those people were asked to leave.

'They were very compliant. But in effect that wedding reception was closed down and what remained was a small number of people.

'And today, further action is going to be considered with the local authority in relation to that premises about what we can do to stop that happening again.' 

DCC Woods, who said the incident made him feel 'gutted', added: 'We know it's hard but what we will do is name and shame places that flout the regulations to this sort of extent and there will be consequences for those sorts of places.'

On Facebook, Blackburn and Darwen Police said the incident was 'disappointing' but added that the gathering was dispersed without any further issue

In a Facebook post, Blackburn and Darwen Police said officers engaged with those attending the wedding reception and the gathering was dispersed without any further issue.

The post said: 'This is a clear breach of both local and national restrictions that puts everyone attending at risk.' 

Police added that the incident was 'disappointing' and asked the public to continue to work with authorities to keep 'everyone safe'. 

Meanwhile, Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, at Darwen Borough Council said: 'We are aware of this incident at a wedding reception on Sunday night and are working closely with the police on enforcement measures.

'This was a breach of the current restrictions that state that only 30 people can attend a wedding and we are taking this incredibly seriously. 

'Most businesses in our borough comply with the regulations that are intended to keep people safe. 

'It is incredibly disappointing when we have to take action against businesses who flout the rules.

'We are unable to comment on actions being taken in specific cases at the moment, but the Council won't allow venues to put people's safety at risk. This is having an effect on everybody in the town.'

It comes as a fixed penalty notice was also issued to an organiser of a wedding with more than 50 guests and a marquee in Greater Manchester.

Both areas are subject to local restrictions to prevent people socialising with other households following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Blackburn has local lockdown laws in place to curb a rapid rise in coronavirus cases, preventing people from visiting other households in their homes or private gardens.

Wedding receptions are currently banned in Blackburn under the new rules, with wedding ceremonies only permitted with a maximum of 30 guests.

The Manchester wedding, which took place in Whalley Range, was one of 54 reported coronavirus breaches between 3pm and 11pm on Sunday in Greater Manchester, police said.

Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Pilling said: 'Following large gatherings on both Friday and Saturday night, we have had to attend further events yesterday evening.

'We've been really open with the public about the pressure these calls place on already stretched and limited resources and I really need people to understand what is at stake here.

'Can you imagine a vulnerable loved one not being able to get through to 999 when in an emergency, because our phone lines are tied up with people reporting illegal parties? It's this serious.' 

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A fixed penalty notice was issued to an organiser of a wedding with more than 50 guests and a marquee in Greater Manchester, as the gathering broke strict local lockdown rules (file photo)

Local lockdown restrictions will remain in Greater Manchester for at least another week as evidence does not show a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the area.

The rules state that residents are not allowed to visit someone else's home or garden or socialise with people they do not live with in other indoor spaces. 

Wedding receptions and ceremonies are also not yet allowed to resume, as exhibition and conference centres also remain closed.

DCC Pilling added: 'I feel we've been really fair with the public, engaging and explaining with them and only enforcing as a last resort.

'However, these blatant breaches continue and we owe it to our communities to thoroughly investigate these types of reports and prosecute those involved. We will continue to enforce when there is a blatant disregard for the rules.

'We understand that the vast majority of people across Greater Manchester are doing the right thing and it's incredibly disappointing that these people are being continuously let down by a small majority, who are selfishly flouting the very guidance that is there to keep us safe. I want to thank those who are doing their bit.'

MailOnline has contacted Waheed's Buffet and Banquet Hall for a comment.