Police break up parties in 'busy' Doncaster as lockdown rules ‘fall on deaf ears’

Police in Doncaster have broken up a number of parties – including one in the street – as people continue to flout coronavirus lockdown rules.
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South Yorkshire Police’s Off Road Team revealed how officers had been switched to deal with a number of incidents in an ‘especially busy’ Doncaster with many people ignoring rules on staying at home and social distancing.

It comes after footage of a busy Doncaster town centre emerged yesterday.

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Clips showed groups of people shopping, mingling and enjoying the sunshine outside the Frenchgate Centre yesterday.

Police have been kept 'especially busy' in Doncaster.Police have been kept 'especially busy' in Doncaster.
Police have been kept 'especially busy' in Doncaster.

Police said yesterday was the busiest during the lockdown – with orders to stay at home falling ‘on deaf ears.’

A spokesman said: “The team have been directed away from our usual COVID 19 patrols in green spaces to deal with some urban issues.

“Doncaster has been especially busy. The team were called to incidents of house parties and on one occasion even a small street party.

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“While out today we have also spoken to numerous groups unfortunately our interactions have fallen mainly on deaf ears with people not seeing the risk.

“Since this began today has been the busiest we have seen on the roads at retail parks and in general with people out and about.

“The Trans Penine Trail was so busy we had to capture it on body worn video, so it could be fed back into command and control.

“Barnsley on the other hand was perceptibly quieter. However as we came back into the North of Sheffield from the M1 down through Chapeltown again it was very busy.”