Moment cops serve Liverpool gym owner with £1,000 fine as he refuses to shut despite Tier 3 lockdown  The SunView Full coverage on Google News

THIS is the moment cops slapped a Liverpool gym owner with a £1,000 fine after he refused to shut despite Tier 3 lockdown rules.
Defiant Nick Whitcombe said he wouldn’t close Bodytech Fitness in Moreton because he fears he will never re-open again.
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A gym owner was slapped with a £1k fine by cops for staying open under Tier 3 rulesCredit: nickcapo__
But a passer-by noticed the gym was still open despite the strict lockdown rules stating fitness centres must close and called police.
When Nick refused to shut again, he says around eight officers swooped on the gym and served him a £1,000 fine under the new measures.
The owner shared footage of cops in protective gear inside the gym, saying: “We have just received our first £1,000 fine at Body Tech.
“After meeting with the police yesterday, they told us we would get a warning first day, then a second warning, £100 fine, £200 fine and so on.
“They were with us this morning, gave us our warning. Then came back this afternoon, orders from their top boss to issue a fine straight away.
“So, they’ve told us ‘close immediately’ or I’ll take a £1,000 fine.
“Obviously we still had quite a lot of members training and I said to the officers, ‘I’m not asking anyone to leave. Even if I am I’m going to let them finish their sessions first’.
“So they’ve issued the fine. First one’s £1,000. They can come back in three hours and issue £2,000. Three hours after that £4,000.
“It’s disappointing. They sent out seven or eight firearms officers, what a waste of resources.”
Nick had earlier shared footage saying there will be “no business, there will be no gym, there will be no jobs” if he closes up.
He added: “We need to keep fighting and we need you to keep supporting us. We fight the good fight. Gyms need to stay open.”
This week Boris Johnson unveiled his three-tier local lockdowns  with Liverpool immediately hit with the highest restrictions.
The city has one of the worst infection rates in the country, with 669.5 cases per 100,000 people.
The restrictions will be in place for at least four weeks, when they will be reviewed by the Government.
The tough new rules mean from today people in Liverpool and Merseyside won’t be allowed to mix with other households anywhere indoors, or in private gardens.
And pubs and bars will be closed, but restaurants will be allowed to stay open and boozers that serve “substantial” meals.
Betting shops, gyms and casinos have also been told to close.
There are now fears Greater Manchester and Lancashire will join Liverpool and be put on very high alert.
The change would put the two areas into Tier Three, which would see 3,100 pubs and 475 gyms shut their doors.
And London is teetering on the edge of Tier 2, which means household mixing would be banned.
Merseyside Police confirmed the gym was fined and ordered to close under “legislation prohibiting gyms from opening in the Liverpool City Region”.
Chief Superintendent Claire Richards said: “We understand that people are frustrated with the current situation and for a number of local businesses, including the fitness and leisure industry, this will be particularly hard.
“It’s not that long ago that gyms reopened their doors after lockdown and they did so after making huge changes to the way they work for the safety and protection of their customers.
“But while this lockdown does present huge challenges, the focus of us all should now be on preventing the spread of the virus and getting us back to normality as safely and as quickly as possible.
“The new restrictions have been brought in to try to achieve that, and if we don’t act decisively and collaboratively, the impact could be harder and last even longer.
“We will therefore continue to encourage members of the public and businesses to adhere to the guidance, explain why they should and as in this case – use enforcement where there are clear breaches of legislation.”
Nick Whitcombe said he would have no gym to go back to if he closed it under lockdown rulesCredit: nickcapo__
Mr Whitcombe said ‘seven or eight firearms officers’ were sent outCredit: Instagram
The owner fears his gym will close for goodCredit: nickcapo_
Police at the gym in MoretonCredit: nickcapo__
Greater Manchester and Lancashire set for Tier 3 lockdown as 3.5m more people face strictest measures