A Harrogate resident has sent us a video of large queues forming outside a shop in the town immediately after the pubs closed.
The footage shows dozens of people waiting outside Tesco Express on Cambridge Road at 10.02pm on Saturday.
Phil Riverside, the Harrogate resident who captured the scenes, raised his concerns about the gathering. He said “it just doesn’t make sense”.
Read more:
- Police say they will act to disperse any post-curfew parties
- Harrogate care home unable to get flu jabs for staff
He also echoed fears nationally that a pub curfew at 10pm will move groups out of the venue’s controlled environment and out onto the streets.
The Stray Ferret took the video to North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council. The council said it was a matter for the police and the police declined to comment.
While it is not on the same level of a gathering in York’s city centre from last month, the police have previously committed to dispersing groups.
Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to Covid-19, previously said:
“It’s very clear that we are at a turning point now, where everyone’s personal choices will have a significant effect upon the rate at which this virus spreads over the coming weeks.”
We also showed the footage to Tesco. The store did not want to comment on this specific case but said it follows all government guidance on coronavirus.
