Police pelted with missiles while attempting to shut down illegal party in Manchester this weekend

Greater Manchester Police were pelted with missiles as they tried to break up an illegal party this weekend in Gorton. 

The party, organised by a 27-year-old woman, took place on Harlow Drive in Gorton on Saturday and followed other large gatherings in Rusholme the evening before, over on Wilmslow Road.

Police officers had to call for significant back-up on Saturday night as they dealt with the second large gathering in the area that weekend. 

GMP’s Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ – adding that such blatant flouting of the rules was ‘beyond comprehension’.

He added: “I can honestly say that in 30 years of policing I have never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour. It is appalling. We are still in the midst of a global pandemic and over 40,000 people have lost their lives.”

The 27-year-old was fined £100 and issued with an anti-social behaviour order, banning anyone from outside the household entering the property.

The CCTV and other evidence is still being reviewed to identify the people involved.

Friday’s street gatherings had already been condemned by Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan, who said he was ‘disappointed, frustrated and angry with the appalling behaviour’ at the event.

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

Greater Manchester remains under additional lockdown restrictions which were extended on Friday. Many people have expressed concerns regarding people not following the rules.

One Twitter user wrote ‘Anyway, Greater Manchester lockdown’s going well isn’t it’, while another added: “Manchester is on lockdown and yet no visible masks. The city I love is going down the toilet.”