‘Get the army in’: Residents call for drastic measures as Page Hall ignores lockdown

A number of complaints have been made about social distancing breaches in the Page Hall area since the coronavirus pandemic began.

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Former councillor Ibrar Hussain posted photographs on Twitter to show how some residents were gathering on the streets and ignoring social distancing recommendations earlier in the outbreak.

Police officers stepped up patrols and posted leaflets, translated into different languages, to homes urging people to follow government guidance on how to reduce the spread of the deadly virus.

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But yesterday residents across Sheffield expressed outrage when mobile phone footage showed a huge crowd gathered on Popple Street when a heated disturbance broke out.

A throng of around 100 people could be clearly seen breaching Covid-19 guidance, just a few hundred metres away from the Northern General Hospital.

A total of 236 hospital patients in Sheffield have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Posting on Facebook, Ben Priest said: “Everyone of them should be fined.”

And Donna Holmes added: “Get the army in to patrol it. They should be abiding by the rules. Bang out of order.”

In agreement, Barry Bartle said: “About time the army was deployed to assist the police.”

Ann Beardsmore said the footage should be sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“Send this footage to Boris and tell him to tell the police to pull their fingers out. Are they afraid or what? Something’s got to be done or this virus will never go. They should fine them on the spot and then lock them up for good,” she said.

Jane Brown added: “That’s shocking behaviour, they should be last in the queue when they need the NHS.”

Kath Garner said: “Sheffield Council get something done about this.”

South Yorkshire Police said: “Since government restrictions were introduced we have been working hard to engage with people living in the Page Hall area about the importance of adhering to social distancing.“There is however, a small number who continue to flout restrictions. In these instances, we have moved to enforcement to encourage compliance.”