While most people and businesses are doing their best to share the load from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, police in Manchester are trying to cope with pubs that refuse to lock their doors.
Manchester’s Chief Constable Ian Hopkins has named and shamed pubs for flouting the coronavirus lockdown. Hopkins and his colleagues are dealing with complaints from the public of dozens of pubs across Greater Manchester remaining open, in defiance of the government’s COVID-19 policy.
Police teams and local licensing officials are visiting pubs thought to still be flouting the rules and ordering them to close.
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told listeners: “Pubs are really tricky for us at the moment. We are getting reports that some are letting members of the public in through the back door and it’s just basically flouting the licensing laws.
“We will be dealing with them and they will have their licences revoked. I’ve got numerous examples of licensed premises that are continuing to do that, and we will treat this really seriously and deal with them.
“Stop it! You are putting people’s lives at risk as well as being very, very selfish to the wider community.”