Police officers were beaten for posing for photos with guests attending a 200-person wedding and for violating coronavirus safety guidelines.
West Mercia police officers kneeled in the street next to the Wellington, Telford wedding guests who did not maintain social distancing.
The smiling officers posed on the residential street next to a fleet of supercars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Lamborghini.
The ceremony took place on August 15th in Telford, Shropshire, before the wedding party traveled across the West Midlands to Birmingham, where more than 200 guests were staying in a five-star hotel.
West Mercia police officers were beaten up for posing next to guests and a fleet of supercars that violated coronavirus safety rules at a wedding on August 15
Chief Supt Sue Thomas of West Merica Police expressed disappointment after being shown a photo of the wedding reception.
She said, “As part of her engagement at the wedding party, our officers agreed to pose for a photo.
“Disappointingly, the officers don’t seem to have reminded the group of the importance of social distancing or to have taken such action themselves – and they’re being addressed about it.”
Telford residents said the celebration lasted two days and that fireworks at the celebration made their lives miserable.
Witnesses said 230 guests attended a lavish reception at Birmingham’s Crystal Plaza.
West Midlands police reportedly acted quickly, but the police presence in the Small Heath banquet suite did little to dampen the festivities that continued elsewhere.
A member of the Crystal Plaza management team said he was absent from the event.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We were called to Crystal Plaza on Armory Road at 8.45pm on Saturday after reports of a major wedding ceremony in violation of Covid-19 restrictions.
The officers were present and found around 200 people at the venue. Evidence was collected on body-worn cameras and officials distributed the gathering. ‘
The spokesman added that license and local neighborhood officials visited the venue the previous day to remind staff that “under Covid-19 legislation, it is illegal to hold large gatherings, parties or wedding receptions”.
Birmingham is currently on the government watch list and could face a local lockdown as the number of infections continues to rise.
The ceremony took place in Telford before the wedding party traveled to Birmingham, where more than 200 guests came to the five-star Crystal Plaza (above).
Dr. Justin Varney, Birmingham director of public health, told executives that the recent surge in cases has been “dramatic” and has sparked national concern.
In the seven days leading up to August 17, 332 positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in Birmingham, a rate of 29.1 per 100,000 people compared to 292 cases the week before.
New guidelines restrict large gatherings of more than 30 people and now only allow two people from one household to congregate with another household.
The wedding reception is supposed to continued partying in the suburb of Arleston in Telford, causing complaints from neighbors.
One person said, “The noise from fireworks was terrible. We couldn’t sleep and pets were scared to death. There have been a lot of complaints on social media.
“This is not the time to have big weddings.”
Angela McClements, councilor for Labor Arleston, confirmed that she had been approached by residents “not particularly pleased with the noise”, adding that she had spoken to police in person.
Commenting on the police officers’ picture, one resident said, “Where is the social distancing at the end of the day? You have to abide by the coronavirus rules, and it is up to the police to enforce those rules.
‘The police are going to come out badly. Presumably they knew this was happening.
“You should have asked beforehand how the families would play it.”
West Midlands Police were present in the Small Heath banquet suite at Crystal Plaza, but the festivities continued in the suburb of Arleston in Telford and sparked complaints
West Mercia police said action will be taken after the marathon wedding celebration.
A press secretary said, “There was a big Asian wedding going on during the week.
‘The Safer Neighborhood Team was on duty, conducting patrols to ensure public safety.
“We understand that some of the guests were driving inappropriately, which is being followed up in relation to who was driving.”
The police confirmed that notices are also published in section 59 when “a vehicle is used in a manner that causes alarm, distress and annoyance”.
A Telford and Wrekin Council spokesman added they knew about a wedding reception being held in Arleston and raised the matter with West Mercia Police.
This is because 28 people in Telford tested positive for the virus over a seven-day period, compared to the previous week when only four new cases had emerged.
Both Birmingham City Council and Telford and Wrekin City Councils have urged the public to help prevent local lockdowns.
