Police issue statement as officers confront Quinn Blakey hairdresser at Bradford salon

Sinead Quinn, the owner of Quinn Blakey Hairdressing, in Oakenshaw, entered her salon today after posting a number of messages on social media about taking part in “The Great Opening”.

Ms Quinn, who has not paid the fixed penalty notices she was issued with last year for repeatedly breaching lockdown rules, arrived at the salon in a black Range Rover at 9.20am.

She remained in the vehicle for about half an hour before driving away.

Ms Quinn returned shortly before 12pm and entered the building.

She spoke to two police officers through the door before letting them inside and closing the shutters.

All three left the salon a short time later and police later confirmed that Ms Quinn had not breached Covid regulations.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police did attend at a hairdressers in Oakenshaw on Saturday. No Covid breaches or any other such matters were disclosed or noted.”

Kirklees Council has been granted an injunction forbidding Ms Quinn from opening her salon during the current lockdown.

The long-running saga saw her rack up £17,000 worth of Fixed Penalty Notices, which Kirklees Council said had not yet been paid.

In November, magistrates ordered the salon to close until the end of the lockdown after Ms Quinn was observed serving customers on six days while national regulations were in force.

The council said it had now started a prosecution process regarding the salon’s unpaid fines for breaching lockdown rules.

Paul Davies, a councillor with Kirklees Council, said: “To date, all of the fixed penalty notices issued to the hairdresser for not complying with lockdown rules remain unpaid.

“These lockdown rules, set by Government, exist to keep people safe by preventing the spread of Covid-19. Blatantly disregarding them in this way was irresponsible.

“With the time given to pay the fines now passed, we have started a prosecution process and are currently putting our case together.

“This process can take some time and could potentially lead to a trial. Punishment could be an unlimited fine, decided by the court.

“In the meantime, we’ll continue to monitor the situation and, if further breaches of lockdown rules do occur, we will need to take the same appropriate action, which would be the case for any business.

“I’m also urging people not to visit, or use, any business that is operating in breach of the lockdown rules. If you do, you are putting your own health, and your family’s, at risk and you could also be fined too.”