Current timestamp: 20/05/2022 07:29:35
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Mersyside Police header logo

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
    • Road traffic incident
    • Antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • How to tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
    • Possible breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Register as an overseas visitor
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Police urge people not to gather in Merseyside

Main article content

Navigation

News

09:29 19/11/2020

Latest News 26.jpg

We are continuing to urge anyone considering gathering in Merseyside to stay at home to protect loved ones and help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Anyone organising or facilitating an unlawful gathering of more than two people is liable to be fined £10,000 or summonsed to court, while those participating in them could be fined £200 for a first offence, doubling for repeat offences up to £6,400.

Following a protest in Liverpool city centre on Saturday, 27 people were arrested and officers are continuing to study CCTV and officers’ bodycam footage in order to gather evidence and identify other suspects We will take further enforcement action where appropriate.

Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine said: “We fully recognise the important right of freedom of expression, but we simply cannot ignore the fact that a deadly virus is being transmitted in our communities which more than 50,000 have now died with in the UK.

“Evidence has shown that it is a virus that can thrive in large crowds where people from different households gather and where it is very difficult to social distance, so we continue to ask that people find safe and lawful ways of making their voices heard.

“The Government has passed legislation around gatherings for a reason - to prevent further loss of life and to protect the NHS.

“This is not about restricting people’s rights for the sake of it – it is about joining a national effort to save lives, spare people the anguish of suffering the effects of coronavirus, and restore our ability to return to normality as soon as we can.

“The overwhelming majority of people in our communities understand that we as a police force have a legal and moral duty to uphold this legislation, and they shared our anger and disappointment at the scenes in Liverpool last Saturday where people gathered to protest.

“It is two weeks since a mass testing scheme was introduced in Liverpool in a bid to combat Coronavirus and it has been heartening to see 100,000 people have come forward to be tested, and do their bit to slow the spread.

“Since March, so many people and businesses have made tremendous sacrifices and been incredibly patient, doing their bit to get us all back to normality as soon as possible.

“I want to reassure all those people that comprehensive plans are in place to deal with any repeat of the scenes we saw on Saturday, and there will be additional officers in uniform and plain clothes in Liverpool city centre this weekend to identify any offenders. And we will work with our colleagues at Citywatch – the city centre’s CCTV network – to ensure we can identify others who have clearly breached the current legislation, gather evidence and ultimately take action.

“With the support of other law enforcement agencies we will be policing routes into the city, and will be supported by our Dog Section and Mounted Section as well as air support in our efforts to prevent people from endangering the health of others.

“As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will always strive to encourage people to disperse and go home peacefully. But where we face blatant breaches of legislation, people ignoring the restrictions and even obstructing police from carrying out their duty, our officers will not hesitate to take enforcement action.

“The wider public does not expect us to stand by and allow a small minority to endanger the health of the vast majority, and we will not. At this crucial time when a lockdown is in place in a national effort to stop the virus spreading, we will not tolerate the actions of those who risk prolonging the challenging times we face, and the health of our loved ones.”

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Merseyside Police

  • About us
  • Join us
  • Contact us
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the police
  • Police & Crime Commissioner

Follow us on

© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.