ONE month on from police being called in to investigate an unofficial large gathering on Warrington Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, the issue has still not been resolved – after the borough council failed to accept the findings of the report.
Now the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire David Keane has been called in to carry out a further review.
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “On Sunday 8 November, Cheshire Constabulary was asked by Warrington Borough Council to review a report of a pre-planned gathering that took place at the Cenotaph in Warrington.
“Cheshire Constabulary has completed its review and sent a report to the local authority. The local authority has the right to ask for a further review, which they have requested.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We asked the police to undertake a review of an unofficial pre-planned gathering at the Cenotaph, due to the health and safety risks posed by holding such an event while national coronavirus restrictions, regulations, and guidance for Remembrance Sunday were in place.
“Our request to review the gathering was a decision made on the basis of keeping our communities safe and is a value we’ve held central to our work since the start of the pandemic.
“We have received a report from the police following our complaint and cannot reconcile its content and findings in relation to the evidence they have presented. We have therefore requested a further review to be undertaken by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.”
Police were called in to investigate after concerns were raised by the borough council about the management and organisation of the large gathering of an estimated 200 people at an unofficial Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph which went ahead despite national restrictions.
As a result of the concerns, Warrington Borough Council contacted Cheshire Police to investigate the gathering, to ascertain how the event was organised without prior notice and to identify what COVID-secure measures were in place as required by the regulations.
As well as investigating the gathering, it is understood the investigation involved the Police being investigated for being present at the event by the Professional Standards Department.
Letter: Warrington Cenotaph gathering was not an organised meeting
3 Comments
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WBC councellors and leadets are total self centred bullies and jobsworths. What a waste of Police time during a continued pandemic.
Not a wise use of police time. Looks like ego to me. OK, perhaps the police shouldn’t have been there, given that the event had been cancelled and it was lockdown – they should set an example, for sure.
But really, WBC – the town has murders, serious sexual assaults, people trafficking, major drugs rings – there actually is enough proper stuff for the police to be cracking on with. Maybe wind your necks in?