Coronavirus: Police in Manchester issue Easter warning after 660 parties shut down, some with DJs, fireworks and bouncy castles

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford joins campaign pleading with people to stay at home over holiday

Police in Manchester are urging people to obey the lockdown rules and stay at home over Easter, after officers had to break up 660 parties in the city in the space of just a few days.

Greater Manchester Police said there had been a “sharp increase” in breaches of strict social distancing guidelines in the area between Saturday and Tuesday – including 494 house parties and 166 street parties.

Some gatherings even featured bouncy castles, DJs and fireworks, according to the force. One 31-year-old woman in Bury was charged with failing to comply with Coronavirus Act 2020, after officers were repeatedly forced to shut down a parties at her home.

“Although the majority of the public across Greater Manchester have abided by the guidelines since they came into effect, last weekend saw a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 breaches reported to police,” the force said in a statement.

In a bid to get residents to take the lockdown seriously, a group of Manchester celebrities – including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford – have agreed to shoot homemade videos telling people to stay at home over Easter.

Manchester United coach Michael Carrick, Manchester City’s Steph Houghton, Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder and Coronation Street’s Dan Brocklebank have also lent their support to the Stay Home Save Lives initiative.

The videos, to be released across the long weekend, also feature key workers in the fight against Covid-19 including a nurse, a teacher, and police officers and staff. Boxer Anthony Crolla, Kyle Ross from the rock group Fuzzy Sun, and Lancashire county cricketer Keaton Jennings are also involved.

“Traditionally, Easter weekend sees increased activity in and around public spaces – including places of worship, beauty spots and town centres – as well as large gatherings of families and friends at residential properties,” said a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police.

“This year celebrations will differ, as we continue to follow government guidelines and stay at home in an effort to help limit the transmission of Covid-19.”

It comes as the latest YouGov poll shows a majority of the British public support the police response to virus, but a third think some officers have “gone too far”, new research shows.

Overall, 42 per cent of people said they fully supported the current police approach and 32 per cent said they supported it “but think in some cases it has gone too far”.