Don't do as I do, do as I say.

[Heisenberg]

I do realise that. But the longer these things take the more they appear to be 'manufactured' rather than a member of the public with just concerns going public as soon as he or she sees something wrong. Does it mean that the papers in question were suppressing the thing until it suited their bigger agenda?

None of which excuses him of course it just makes it smell a bit more politically motivated.

"Does it mean the papers were suppressing it?"...

What's more likely: they waited until Friday night when the policy in England had already changed to ease the rules of lockdown (making the story slightly less impressive) or they spent about a month gathering evidence and speaking to witnesses - including Durham police?

It's great to be sceptical - I think it's a massively positive trait to have - but your scepticism always seems to err on the side of the Tories, no matter how you end up trying to spin it.

That's not how being a sceptic works.