Seven people have been arrested in Wemsley Grove, Tonge Moor, Bolton, after police were called to a house party attended by around 40 adults and children.
Shortly before 20:00 hours on Saturday 9th, May 2020, police were called to reports that a large group of people were fighting outside of an address.
When officers arrived on the scene, they were met by a hostile crowd who were at the address to celebrate someone’s birthday. Both young children and adults were present.
Officers began to ask the revellers to leave the address. But the crowd became aggressive, refused to co-operate and were abusive towards the officers.
Despite the torrent of abuse, the officers continued to plea with the crowd to disperse to prevent any further action being necessary.
As some started to leave the address, a group started to spit on and cough at the officers in a deliberate and threatening manner.
In total, seven individuals were arrested, aged between 23 and 48, on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts, said:
“When the vast majority of us are all making such sacrifices in order to reduce the transmission of the virus and save lives as a result it is really disappointing to see the rules being flagrantly ignored by those who are putting their own safety and the safety of so many others at risk.
“This remains an incredibly challenging time for everybody but we all need to follow the legislation and government guidance in order to save lives and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.
“Following this incident yesterday, the Bolton Neighbourhood Team will be out providing reassurance to residents in the area, so please feel free to speak to them if you have any questions or concerns.”
Since the lockdown began, the courts have taken a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to anyone who has been found guilty of deliberately coughing on first responders, with many of those convicted receiving custodial sentences.
At 19:00 this evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce to the nation what the government’s intentions are having reviewed the current lockdown conditions.
So far in the UK alone, 31,587 people have died after contracting COVID-19. Globally, the death toll is now 280,880 (WHO) with 4,153,906 cases detected worldwide.

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I think it’s bloody disgusting how dare they,there to help us in this horrible time not to be abused by idiots who think there being clever, well there not