Yobs hurl stones at South Yorkshire Covid-19 test centre forcing it to close

The testing centre in the car park of Maltby Leisure Centre, had to close early on Tuesday (April 6) after stones were thrown at staff, according to police.

South Yorkshire police’s Rotherham South Neighbourhood Policing Team said “local youths” were believed to have been “throwing stones at the site and staff”.

A spokesperson from Rotherham Council said that they are “disappointed” at the incident, and that measures to ensure staff’s safety are being put in place.

The spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that staff at the test site, who have been providing the borough with an essential service throughout the pandemic, have been subjected to anti-social behaviour.

“The Council is working with partners to put a range of measures in place so that the test site at Maltby is safe for staff and customers.”

Alexander Stafford Rother Valley’s MP called the behaviour “unacceptable”, and called for a “zero tolerance approach”.

Mr Stafford said: “If you know who is involved, do report them to the police.

“We must have a zero tolerance approach when it comes to this madness. The only way we can defeat Covid is by vaccinating and testing. If our local testing site is forced to close then it makes it harder to defeat the virus.”