Exclusive

Merseyside police chief criticises "selfish, dangerous" crowd in Liverpool

14 October 2020, 15:17 | Updated: 14 October 2020, 15:21

Chief Constable responds to Liverpool revellers

By Maddie Goodfellow

The Chief of Merseyside Police has criticised revellers who spilled out on to the streets of Liverpool ahead of tier 3 lockdown restrictions coming into force in the region as "selfish, dangerous and childish".

Speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty, Chief of Merseyside Police Andy Cook said the behaviour was "selfish, dangerous, childish and is not at all reflective of the vast majority of people on Merseyside who have been doing the right thing.

"We cleared those individuals very very quickly following that display and I'm really pleased to say people as a whole are doing the right thing but sadly a small number of people like that bring shame on the city," he said.

Merseyside chief constable Andy Cook said it was a "childish" display
Merseyside chief constable Andy Cook said it was a "childish" display. Picture: LBC

The Chief Constable told LBC the police gave out 35 fines on Tuesday night.

Pub-goers spilled onto the streets at 10pm as the government's curfew was enforced, with revellers keen to get their last bit of fun ahead of the stricter rules.

Videos posted on social media showed hundreds of people - many not wearing masks or adhering to social distancing rules - chanting and dancing in the streets.

The police chief also explained that revellers were cleared "very very quickly".

Liverpool revellers party on the final night before covid restrictions

His comments come as Mayor Joe Anderson said the footage had sent him into "levels of despair" he had never experienced before.

He said: "I saw those people behaving in the way they did when over the last couple of days I have had messages from hospital workers who want to remain anonymous because they are concerned.

"The hospitals are so much under pressure, the staff feel physically and mentally exhausted.

"Yet I see people putting two fingers up to those health workers and the people who have had members of their family die.

"It really was a slap in the face."

He said: "This city is in a Covid crisis. It's an enemy we are really finding it hard to get on top of and defeat. We need to keep working together and pulling together.

"Do I think at this juncture what we've got in place is going to be enough to bring it down rapidly? I'm not so sure.

"Do I think we could bring the R rate back to a level that is manageable in a month? It is going to be difficult but that's what we've got to do and we have got to work together with people co-operating."

"I wish not wearing a mask was treated like smoking inside"

Constable Cook later told Shelagh that police are supporting supermarkets across Merseyside to enforce mask wearing.

He explained: "It takes time to get the message home to some sadly.

"Some people will always do the wrong thing, but I wish it was treated as seriously as smoking indoors.

"These people are causing a danger to others and we need to deal with it."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

One of two assassination attempts made towards the former President was carried out in Pennsylvania

Trump says he would not 'mind' if journalists were shot at Pennsylvania rally

A 10-year-old girl who was mauled to death by her family's dog had a 'close, loving relationship' with the pet that killed her, police have said.

'Devastated' family pay tribute to 'wonderful' 10-year-old girl mauled to death by pet dog

Trump has been fixated on crowd sizes throughout this election cycle

Trump's latest crowd size brag backfires as camera pans to reveal sea of empty seats

Harris overtakes Trump in new polls as VP's rally is moved due to safety concerns on eve of 'knife-edge' US election

Harris overtakes Trump in new polls as VP's rally is moved due to safety concerns on eve of 'knife-edge' US election

Tuition fees are set to rise with inflation

Government set to increase university tuition fees for first time in eight years

Kris Finney has been missing since Thursday

British man missing in Tenerife not seen for three days as Foreign Office issues statement

A 'severed head' was discovered in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Partygoers mistook severed head for Halloween prank after 74-year-old man 'decapitated' in 'tragic' Edinburgh incident

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Police have launched an appeal to find missing artist Sarah Cunningham after she vanished in the early hours of Saturday in Camden.

Police searching for missing artist Sarah Cunningham find body on tracks

Deliveroo reveals its most ordered dishes with chicken wings, Caesar salads and a whole cucumber leading the list

Deliveroo reveals its most ordered dishes with chicken wings, Caesar salad and a whole cucumber leading the list

Coco Gauff performs in front of a small crowd at the WTA finals in Saudia Arabia

Tim Henman hits out at ‘disappointing’ crowd after 400 watch women’s finals in Saudi Arabia

Dr Florian Willet, president of Sarco operator The Last Resort, and the suicide pod

First person to use Sarco 'suicide pod' heard three chilling words before death

Lord and Lady Lucan

Who is Lord Lucan? Real story of killer aristocrat 50 years after he vanished following nanny's murder

Dawn French revealed as star of M&S Christmas advert as supermarket launches festive campaign

Dawn French revealed as star of M&S Christmas advert as high street supermarkets unveil festive campaigns

A British couple were found dead in their car as floods devastated parts of Spain

British couple missing in Spain floods found dead in car after 'popping out' to buy gas

Meredith Kercher's family blast 'lack of sensitivity' over Disney-backed Amanda Knox drama

Amanda Knox accused of 'profiting from murder' by Meredith Kercher's family over Disney-backed trial drama