Three people were arrested and 13 fined after hundreds turned out at what appeared to be an anti-lockdown protest in Liverpool city centre.
Police were called into the city on Thursday night, following reports huge crowds had gathered at St George's Hall at around 6.30pm.
Here a number of people were given fixed penalty notices for breaching lockdown regulations before the majority of the group left the area.
A short time later, some crowds reformed at the Pier Head and footage on social media showed hundreds of people marching through Liverpool One towards the Strand.
Three people in the crowd were arrested throughout the night for public order offences and a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said that a vehicle was also seized during the evening.
Images sent to the ECHO show a large group of police officers running across the road towards St John's shopping centre, at around 9.pm after witnesses saw protesters in the area.
They said: "At approximately 9.10pm police were seen dispersing a large crowd walking from the direction of Liverpool Empire Theatre towards Lime street.
"After this an incident occurred in which approximately 22 officers congregated outside the station ran after a number of individuals."
In a statement, the force said: "We can confirm we were called to Liverpool city centre this evening (Thursday, 5 November) following reports a group of protesters had congregated.
"Officers attended St Georges Hall at around 6.30pm where a number of people were issued with fixed penalty notices. The majority of group dispersed and left shortly after."
Chief Inspector Peter Clark said: “Merseyside Police has made it very clear on multiple occasions that the public are advised not to congregate, as protest is no longer an exemption for gatherings under the current restrictions.
“A significant amount of people attended St George’s Hall this evening and after being dispersed, some groups then moved to the Pier Head where they reformed.
“A total of 13 fixed penalty notices have been issued and we are now gathering evidence and carrying out a number of enquiries to identify those who attended, in particular those involved in organising the event, so that further enforcement action can be taken.
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“We also arrested three people for public order offences, seized one vehicle, and issued ten road traffic fixed penalty notices.
“We will always try to engage with the public in the first instance however the regulations are in place for a reason, and we will not hesitate to use enforcement where they are ignored and the health and safety of others is at risk.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 quoting ref. 1147 of 5/11/20 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
