Police in Shirebrook warn residents to stick to lockdown rules after breaking up illegal football match

In a post on Facebook, police from Shirebrook Safer Neighbourhood Team said more people were wanting ‘to get out and enjoy the sun’ during the warm weather last weekend which lead them to issuing more fixed penalty notices.

Officers were called to break up a football match in the town which was in breach of the current Covid-19 measures which prevents more than two people from different households for meeting up to exercise.

The force who also saw an increased number of children gathering in places such as an abandoned building Langwith and Whaley Thorns, urged people to abide by the lockdown restrictions or face fines.

“We are still in lockdown”, Shirebrook Safer Neighbourhood Team wrote.

"We still have to stick to the regulations until they get lifted.

“We will continue to advise, break up and disperse groups of people we see and covid tickets will be issued.”

Officers also documented a rise in the number of off-road bikers riding on land and housing estates without permission from landowners.

Riders were warned that they could have their vehicle seized if they persist in travelling on non-public land.

In the social media post, police encouraged bikers to not commit offences, adding “it's not worth the risk”, while residents commented that parks in the North East Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area had also been busy recently.

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