The dozens of people fined in Greater Manchester over Covid breaches as Downing Street party row continues

As the row over a Christmas party at Downing Street in 2020 rumbles on, we look back at how many people in Greater Manchester were prosecuted for breaching coronavirus rules last year.
Quiet streets in Manchester in July 2020  Credit: ShutterstockQuiet streets in Manchester in July 2020  Credit: Shutterstock
Quiet streets in Manchester in July 2020 Credit: Shutterstock

Calls have been made in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday for the Metropolitan police to investigate if Covid rules were breached by Downing Street staff who allegedly held a Christmas party in 2020 during lockdown.

A video has emerged today of Boris Johnson’s staff joking about what they would say if the gathering became public knowledge. The PM has continued to deny a party was held as he faced a grilling in the Commons today and said he would provide the Metropolitan Police with any information the Government has about Downing Street parties.

Who was prosecuted for Covid breaches?

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ManchesterWorld has looked back at official Government figures which show how many people were prosecuted for breaching coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester last year.

It shows dozens of people were convicted and fined for breaching coronavirus laws in Greater Manchester in 2020.

Ministry of Justice data shows in 2020, there were 62 court prosecutions in the area served by Greater Manchester Police for breaches of restrictions introduced at the beginning of the pandemic. They resulted in 48 convictions, with most leading to fines.

The largest number of fines – 21 – ranged from £50 to £100 while four convictions resulted in fines of between £300 and £500.

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In total, £6,688 in fines were issued by the courts in Greater Manchester.

Almost all the convictions – 43 –were for breaches of emergency restrictions, while five were for people who left their home while potentially infected with Covid-19.

The figures detail all prosecution outcomes, so the same defendant could have been listed more than once.

Across England and Wales, of 4,365 prosecutions against people for breaching coronavirus laws, 3,535 (81%) resulted in convictions.

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In total, £1.3 million in fines were issued. Not one conviction led to the maximum fine of £10,000.

‘Think of the sacrifices’

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham took to Twitter on Tuesday night to comment on the ongoing debate around the Downing Street party.

He tweeted: “To think of all the sacrifices they asked people in Greater Manchester to make.”

Greater Manchester endured some of the strictest and longest periods of lockdown under the old tier system last year.

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One Twitter user replied: “I stuck to the rules. I didn’t see my Dad. He was in a care home with dementia. On that day we had a ‘window visit’ and he was worried that I was cold and why couldn’t I come in for a cuppa. He died in April. I cannot forgive this.”

Another posted: “No one can be expected to ever take the (Government) seriously again. Do you seriously think people will follow restrictions if they try to implement them so close to Xmas?”