Two people arrested and 52 fined after police raid Merseyside gym

Two people have been arrested and more than 50 have been fined after police raided a gym in Merseyside on Sunday afternoon.

Officers were tipped-off that Prophecy Performance Centre on Gaskill Road in Speke had been welcoming fitness enthusiasts in defiance of the national lockdown.

Gym-goers had been prevented from leaving the site to stop them being spotted by officers, said Merseyside Police. A 24-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and are being questioned by police. Some 52 people were issued with fixed penalty notices.

Deputy Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "The incident in Speke today shows that we won't hesitate to work with our partners to take robust action against businesses on Merseyside who continue to flout Covid restrictions."