Police have told how they handed out coronavirus fines to four men from London they found 'visiting family' in Manchester.
Officers from the Fallowfield and Longsight team said the incident happened a few nights ago.
The said they stopped a car and found that all four men inside were from different households in the capital.
Posting on the GMP Facebook page, officers wrote: "They'd come to stay with family for the night in Manchester.
"All four were given tickets for breaching COVID-Regs."
Police said while confirming the identity of the men, they asked for the driver's license and found it had been revoked.
The car was therefore also seized and the driver reported for offences including driving otherwise in accordance with a license, and driving without third party insurance.
Officers added that on Saturday evening alone the Response Policing Team issued nine covid fines.
"Please - only travel if absolutely necessary!" they added.
It comes amid reports the government wants police to get stricter on people who break lockdown rules amid fears it is not being taken seriously enough.
According to the Sunday Telegraph, police across the country are being encouraged to issue £200 if people 'if they refuse to go home at the first time of asking.'
GMP issued more than 100 fines for breaches of covid legislation over New Year.
Incidents included a party of around 40 people at an industrial estate in Ince, Wigan, and another at a house in Fallowfield.
At that point, the total number of fines issued by GMP since August was 2,320.
The government is reportedly concerned that the new lockdown is not going to prove effective.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty issued a stark warning about people continuing to meet others unnecessarily.
"Every unnecessary interaction you have could be the link in a chain of transmission which has a vulnerable person at the end," Prof Whitty said.
The NHS risks being overwhelmed within a fortnight by the number of covid patients needing treatment, he added.
