Salford has four new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,375.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Manchester now has a total of 3,041 cases (up from 3,030), followed by Wigan with 2,147 (same), Oldham 1,917 (up from 1,905), Bolton 1,902 (up from 1,896), Rochdale 1,755 (up from 1,738), Stockport 1,661 (up from 1,656), Tameside 1,547 (up from 1,545), Bury 1,302 (up from 1,301), and Trafford 1,290 (up from 1,284).
There were no new virus-related deaths reported at Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, Salford City Council's Cabinet will next week consider a 42 page report on anti-social behaviour at Salford Quays, with particular reference to the lockdown and post-lockdown easing when hundreds of young people gathered to swim in the open water and jump off the bridges.
"It has been the conduct of and the size of these groups that have been cause for concern for local residents, elected members and partners" states the report which details 192 COVID breaches and Anti-Social Behaviour cases reported during May at the Quays.
These include 22 Household breaches, two Business breaches, 162 outdoor breaches and six Anti Social Behaviour incidents. This compares to 28 reports during the period April to June 2018 (no data for 2019).
During the weekend of 28th-31st May alone this year there were 52 reports to Greater Manchester Police relating to the Quays area, concerning groups of young people jumping off the bridges and swimming in the water, plus off road bikes, crimes, drug taking (laughing gas) and parties.
The problem, states the report, is that water is 'exciting' for young people, while, it adds "There is a generational issue amongst many families whereby the Quays is a place to visit in good weather and jumping from bridges is an acceptable leisure activity and this is something that has always taken place. Some families have commented, 'This is what we have always done and what all of my family have done...'"
The Council report also notes that there are "mixed messages at play in the area", whereby swimming is allowed for those who enter the water via U Swim and Salford Community Leisure, while a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)prohibits unauthorised swimming and jumping off bridges (they dropped the ludicrous no swearing clause) but this is proving difficult to police....
There's the problem of a "vast indefensible space" and cases when kids "use the water as a means of defiance, jumping in when approached by GMP officers and refusing to leave. Officers are then in a position whereby they are waiting for these individuals to exit the water to obtain details; however this is not always possible due to the pressures and demands across the area". Someone attempted to drag one police officer into the water, and was subsequently charged and given a three month prison sentence.
As of the 28th May, 17 warning letters were given out to young people aged 12 to 17 identified as jumping from bridges or "swimming in an unauthorised manner". And, as of 29th June, thirty warning letters were issued to people under 18, after CCTV identification. Also, one Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to an adult who refused to stop 'unauthorised swimming'.
Long term solutions that Salford Council has come up with include more 'No Swimming/No Diving/No Climbing' signs, anti-climb paint and physical barriers...and also to "Reduce the overall number of bridges over watercourses" and "Remove/replace the most at risk bridges..."
Closing the bridges during hot weather has been ruled out as almost impossible to enforce. So short-term there are going to be warning signs, anti-climb paint on Detroit Bridge and the Lowry Footbridge, youth outreach workers with 'free supervised water based activity', more CCTV, and loud speakers on the bridges "informing people of the PSPO prohibitions"...
The Council is also considering a sensible "dedicated area to enable open and supervised swimming"...
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