Harehills resident left furious by youths 'playing football all day' despite lockdown restrictions

A Harehills resident has been left furious - after youths played football 'all day' despite lockdown restrictions.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Pictures provided to the Yorkshire Evening Post by the anonymous resident shows a group of youths in the park allegedly playing football.

The resident said he was 'annoyed' he had to stay inside instead of being able to have his hour exercise with his child while the the group were 'not being considerate'.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: "Just taking a four year old for a short walk up the road and back is not really good enough, I have friends fallen ill with the coronavirus and one is in hospital who has life threatening condition prior to the virus.

Harehills lockdown floutingHarehills lockdown flouting
Harehills lockdown flouting

"I wish people would keep there distance and be respectful of others."

The reports come amid statistics released today by the National Police Chief's Council which revealed 3,203 fines were issued in England between March 27 and the April 13 for flouting the government restrictions.

82 per cent of fines are given to men and 15 per cent to women, with 3 per cent unknown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A third of fines go to those aged 18-24, with a further third going to those aged 25-34, the figures for the UK revealed.

Calls to 999 are down by 14 per cent according to the statistics, with a 13 per cent drop in 101 calls.

Many more people are reporting online during the lockdown measures – a 61 per cent increase.

Fines for breaches of government public health regulations issued by police officers in England and Wales equate to less than 0.01 per cent of the eligible population in England and Wales.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Crime has fallen year on year - police forces have seen crime reduce by 28 per cent in the four weeks to April 12 compared to the same period last year.

The NPCC said provisional data from police forces in England and Wales shows a reduction in crime during coronavirus outbreak and that the vast majority of the public are following government regulations enacted in response to the crisis.

National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Chair Martin Hewitt, said: “The service across the UK currently has an overall absence rate of ten per cent, covering both officers and staff, and not simply relating to Covid-19. With reductions in crime, policing is in a strong, resilient position due to the brilliant commitment of officers and staff and the extra hours of our police volunteers.

“Our message to the public is keep reporting crime to us – we are still here for you and our teams are working round clock to keep you safe.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“To those in danger or at risk, my message is we will come when you call for help.”

On March 26, the Government announced new public health regulations to reduce the spread of coronavirus. These measures entitled officers to issue individuals with £60 fines if they failed to comply after officers had engaged with them, explained the risks to public health and encouraged voluntary compliance.

On the enforcement on new public health regulations, NPCC Chair Martin Hewitt said:

“The vast majority of people are staying at home in order to protect the NHS and help save lives. However, we have seen a small minority of people who, despite our best efforts, have refused to follow the instructions and officers have needed to use their enforcement powers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I want to thank everyone who is being responsible and following the regulations.

“Provisional data on the number of fines issued by police forces shows proportionate policing of these new regulations. Police have interacted with the public in their tens of thousands, with most engagements ending positively and with no need for a fine.

“Our approach our approach of - engage, explain and encourage, and only as a last resort, enforce - is working and will continue.”

Editor’s note:

First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor