Covid: 'Madness' as hundreds descend on Nottingham park

Police have warned people to stick to coronavirus rules after large crowds were seen brawling and drinking in a city park on the day restrictions eased.

Videos shared on social media showed some hugging and others pushing and shoving at Nottingham Arboretum.

One local resident described the scenes on Monday as "horrendous".

Police said they had now put a dispersal order in place to prevent similar scenes over the next few days.

Since Monday morning, two households or groups of up to six people have been allowed to meet outside in England.

Footage appeared to show multiple instances of social distancing being ignored as large numbers began gathering from the afternoon and stayed into the evening.

One video showed people pushing and shoving each other and a large amount of litter was left behind.

"Last night it was horrendous seeing what was going on," the resident told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I walked past on the way to the shop and it was just madness. It seems like a real joke when people are still struggling.

"Staying late, leaving all this rubbish. Every single element of it is completely selfish."

Mature student Thomas Scott, who was in the Aboretum on Monday evening, said: "I felt it was utterly disrespectful.

"There were probably 800 to 1,200 people. When they got kicked out everyone left their rubbish on site."

Pat Robinson, of the Arboretum Residents' Association, said the main culprits were students.

She said: "We are living on a student campus, and they treat the area appallingly.

"I saw so many drunken students, climbing over the railings of the Arboretum, screaming and shouting. There were signs saying no alcohol, but no-one was enforcing it."

The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University have both been approached for comment.

Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen said he was working with "partners" at Nottingham's universities because "we think that a good number of the people there [on Monday] were students".

He added: "Monday was the first day that people could go and meet with more than one other person.

"To see that exploited and people behaving in such an unruly fashion is just so disappointing, and it's dangerous to our community."

As a result of the scenes on Monday, officers were seen stopping people at the Arboretum gates checking bags for alcohol, which is prohibited under a public spaces protection order.

The most recent figures show Nottingham had a coronavirus infection rate of 72.7 per 100,000 people in the week up to 26 March - higher than the national average of 54.7.

For a period in October, the city also had the highest infection rate in the UK.

Earlier this month Nottinghamshire Police brought in dispersal orders in Lenton and the Arboretum to prevent further flouting of lockdown rules after reports of anti-social behaviour and house parties.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper said: "While we can of course understand people's desire to want to be out in the sun and enjoying these mild temperatures we are currently experiencing, the government and our health colleagues remain extremely cautious and advise that people continue to minimise social contact.

"We would like to remind people that we are still only partly out of lockdown measures.

"We are aware of a number of residents choosing to be out in the Arboretum. The behaviour yesterday was unacceptable and we are disappointed people decided to behave in this selfish way. That is why we have now taken the decision to put a dispersal order in place.

"It is up to us all to keep to the measures so we can continue on the roadmap out of lockdown, by keeping the virus at bay."

Mr Mellen added: "Over 600 local people have died due to the virus.

"We have had discussions with senior police officers and there will be increased presence in our parks.

"Drinking alcohol in public spaces is not permitted in Nottingham and will be seized on entry to our parks today."

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