A COMMUNITY organisation is being probed by police and council officials after a 50th birthday party was broken up by officers.
A crowd of between 60 and 70 is thought to have been at Mottram Community Centre on Saturday, September 12.
After complaints to Greater Manchester Police, officers are believed to have attended at about 10.20pm, when people started to leave.
But the organiser of the gathering has been issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100.
Now the centre is being investigated by both police officers and officials from Tameside Council after the incident.
A council spokesman said: “We don’t have any involvement in the building.
“We are however jointly investigating with GMP to better understand what happened and prevent any recurrence.
“Gatherings of this nature are not permitted and pose a significant threat to the whole community in these challenging times.”
Greater Manchester Police made the dispersal public on its Twitter account, saying: “Officers were called to reports of a large illegal gathering in Mottram.
“Officers attended and found approximately 60-70 people in attendance. Officers have dispersed the gathering and the organiser has been issued with a FPN.”
On the same night, GMP broke up gatherings in Altrincham, Flixton and Farnworth ahead of new Government regulations coming into force on Monday, September 14.
You must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than six, both indoors and outdoors.
Covid-19 secure venues, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total but groups of up to six must not mix or form larger groups.
This rule will not apply to individual households or support bubbles of more than six who will still be able to gather together.
Education and work settings are unaffected, and organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30.
Tameside Council used to run Mottram Community Centre, which stands on Church Brow, but handed it over to the Mottram Community Association.