Police shut down wedding and Airbnb house party in 'blatant' breach of COVID regulations

Police have shut down a wedding attended by more than 200 guests and a separate Airbnb house party that were both found to be in flagrant breach of coronavirus restrictions.

Officers were first called to a venue on Old Kent Road in south-east London last Sunday night by residents who feared the address was being burgled.

It turned out a wedding party was being held and it appeared those attending the ceremony had closed the shutters at the front of the venue in an attempt to mask the celebration.

The event was dispersed and two of the guests were advised that they had been reported for consideration of a fixed penalty notice.

Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith, said: “This event was a blatant breach of the regulations and could have been a breeding ground for transmitting the virus.

"There were over 200 people inside, no social distancing and indeed no attempts to make the venue Covid secure, in line with the Government guidelines.

Another person was slapped with a £10,000 fine after officers crashed a party at an Airbnb attended by more than 50 people which included bouncers, DJs, and a buffet.

Police were called to reports of a party at a flat in the Angel Meadows area of Manchester at around 11.20pm on Friday.

The organiser was handed a fine for the breach of coronavirus legislation - one of the first issued since Tier 3 restrictions were introduced.

Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain, of Greater Manchester Police, added: "This party was a blatant disregard of the rules and for public health.

“It is totally unacceptable in the current crisis the whole world is facing and is not what we want our officers to be spending their time doing.

Manchester went into the nation’s highest alert level at midnight on Friday.

In Greater Manchester, infection rates are among the highest in the country.

Watch: Can you catch coronavirus twice?