Home   News   National   Article

Hairdresser warned she could face arrest if salon reopened in lockdown

PA News

A hairdresser who was fined £17,000 for opening during the November lockdown has been told she could be arrested if she reopens before the end of March.

Sinead Quinn, the owner of Quinn Blakey Hairdressing, in Oakenshaw, Bradford, has not paid the fixed penalty notices she was issued with last year for repeatedly breaching lockdown rules.

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

The salon’s Instagram page recently posted a number of messages about “The Great Opening” on January 30.

A copy of the injunction was posted on the page on Friday.

A letter with the injunction, dated January 29, reads: “Kirklees Council have today been to court and have been granted an injunction that forbids you whether by yourself or by instructing or encouraging or permitting any other person from opening the premises known as Quinn Blakey Hairdressing, at Bradford Road, Oakenshaw, Bradford, for the purposes of allowing members of the public to enter the said premises.

“There is a power of arrest attached to this injunction meaning that should you breach this injunction you may be arrested and brought to court.

“The injunction is in place until March 31 2021.”

These lockdown rules, set by Government, exist to keep people safe by preventing the spread of Covid-19
Paul Davies, a councillor with Kirklees Council

The letter said a further hearing on February 8 will reconsider the application and whether the order should continue.

The injunction was granted at Leeds County Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

On Saturday, Ms Quinn arrived at the salon in a black Range Rover at around 9.20am and remained in the vehicle for around half an hour before driving away.

A police officer and owner Sinead Quinn in her shop Quinn Blakey Hairdressing in Oakenshaw, Bradford (Danny Lawson/PA)
A police officer and owner Sinead Quinn in her shop Quinn Blakey Hairdressing in Oakenshaw, Bradford (Danny Lawson/PA)

She returned shortly before 12pm and entered the building.

Ms Quinn 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.

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

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.”

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.

Ms Quinn was fined £17,000 for opening during the November lockdown (Danny Lawson/PA)
Ms Quinn was fined £17,000 for opening during the November lockdown (Danny Lawson/PA)

“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.”


Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More