Coronavirus: Police warn students not to ‘spoil’ A-level results day with illegal house parties

Officer says fixed penalty notices could be issued to anyone who ignores guidance

Students have been warned by police not to “spoil” A-level results day celebrations by holding house parties or illegal gatherings which break coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey warned fixed penalty notices could be issued to anyone who ignores guidance after officers were called to more than 1,000 reports of lockdown breaches last weekend - up 25 per cent from the previous weekend.

“I understand that A-level results are coming out this week and people will rightly want to celebrate,” Mr Bailey said.

“However, please be mindful of the Covid-19 regulations in your celebrations as we do not want to spoil what should be a joyous occasion by issuing fixed penalty notices at any house parties or illegal gatherings.”

He added: “It is worth noting that recent spikes in Greater Manchester which led to the additional restrictions were centred around house parties with 17 to 18-year-olds.”

GMP received 1,106 reports of breaches between 7 and 9 August, including 540 related to house parties or gatherings and 48 related to pubs or bars which were accused of breaking regulations.

Officers attended 40 incidents from those reports, arresting 10 people and issuing 11 fixed penalty notices in the process.

Greater Manchester, along with other parts of northern England, was forced to enhance Covid-19 restrictions in the area on 31 July following a spike in cases.

People in the area have been told not to meet anyone from a different household, with exemptions for support bubbles, in a private home or garden.

However, residents are still allowed to socialise in outdoor public spaces, such as parks, in groups of two households or groups of up to six people from multiple households so long as social distancing is maintained.

The warning came ahead of what could be a controversial results day in England on Thursday due to the calculated results system which has been introduced to make up for the cancellation of this summer’s exams.

On Tuesday, Scotland’s education secretary announced that tens of thousands of pupils would have their results upgraded following outrage over the moderation system which had been put in place by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

About 75,000 pupils saw their results downgraded by the exams body from the grades put forward by their teachers.

Critics said the system penalised pupils from more deprived areas because the SQA took into account the previous performance of schools when moderating teacher-submitted grades.

Universities and schools in England have called for urgent clarity from ministers on how A-level students will be able to appeal against grades on Thursday.

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, apologised on Wednesday for the disruption to pupils’ schooling during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I apologise to every single child right across the country for the disruption that they've had to suffer,” Mr Williamson told the BBC.

However, he insisted the exams system was “robust” and “fair” amid concerns about whether pupils could have their results downgraded.

“The system, for the overwhelming majority of young people, is going to deliver, you know, credible, strong results for every single one of them”, he said.

“It's a robust system, it's a fair system, it's making sure that young people get the grades that they've worked so hard towards.”

Additional reporting by PA