Large Crowds Gather On Streets Of Liverpool Ahead Of Tier Three Lockdown

Large crowds gathered on the streets of Liverpool just hours before the introduction of Tier Three lockdown measures. You can watch footage here:

Following the closure of pubs at the 10pm curfew, people spilled out into the streets around Concert Square last night (Tuesday 14 October) and danced and sang in large groups, in breach of social distancing rules.

When police cars arrived to disperse the crowds, many people booed and some people blocked the road to stop officers passing through.

One eyewitness told the Liverpool Echo: "A large group of young partygoers who were defying every single social distancing rule imaginable attacked a police car on Concert Square.

"This event had a particularly big impact on me because it made clear that this second lockdown that Liverpool will find itself in from tomorrow will have the potential to unleash a very dangerous wave of riots and uprising of people that don't believe in coronavirus restrictions."

PA

Liverpool's placement in the third tier of a new lockdown system means that from today pubs, bars, gyms, casinos and betting shops must close. Additionally, people will not be allowed to socialise with other households indoors or in private gardens.

Liverpool has been placed under the strictest measures amid a growing number of cases, with its number of Covid-19 hospital admissions the third highest in Europe.

A doctor in the city told Sky News: "We have limited capacity in our ITUs across the network, but more worryingly, we have people in the corridors on trolleys waiting for beds.

"We are running at 100 percent capacity. Our Emergency Departments are overcrowded. No social distancing possible. I am dreading we are heading towards a disaster. Then you see crowds behaving such a way. I am really devastated and disgusted."

PA

Footage on social media showed large groups gathering in close proximity to each other and not wearing face masks. One such clip was captioned: "Herd immunity here we come."

Merseyside Police said crowds were dispersed quickly and safely.

Chief Superintendent Peter Costello told Sky News: "While we understand how the new rules which are due to be implemented today are frustrating for some, we would continue to advise everyone to abide by them - including keeping social distancing - for the safety of everyone."

Topics: Liverpool, Police, UK News, Coronavirus, crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey