WE WON’T SHOP YOU
Thousands of stores will not enforce new laws but hope customers obey them
SHOP bosses have warned staff to turn a blind eye if customers refuse to wear face masks over fears they risk being assaulted.
Stores will tell shoppers that coverings are compulsory from tomorrow.
But the Association of Convenience Stores said: “We have advised members not to challenge customers unwilling to wear a covering.” Police warn officers should only be called as a “last resort”.
WITH assaults on shop staff up 40% since lockdown, bosses fear trying to force customers to wear face masks in stores will only lead to further violence.
And the body representing workers and owners yesterday urged members to turn a blind eye if shoppers refuse to comply with the rules, rather than risk any confrontation.
Most stores said they were taking a softly-softly approach with posters reminding people it was compulsory to wear a face mask but without any heavy-handed actions to back it up.
But confusion last night surrounded the regulations, as the Government is only revealing the full guidelines today, just 24 hours before face masks in stores become compulsory.
And police chiefs urged shop staff only to call officers as a “last resort” if customers break the rules, which carry fines of up to £100.
The Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “We are helping retailers to communicate the rules around face coverings as widely as possible to customers, but have advised our members not to challenge customers who are unwilling to wear one.
“The safety of retailers and their colleagues is our number one priority and we are keen to avoid any potential flashpoints of abuse in stores.”
The ACS is issuing posters with the words “thank you for wearing a face mask” and signs explaining why some people may be exempt. British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “While retailers will play their part in communicating the new rules on face coverings, they must not be the ones enforcing them.
“There are hundreds of incidents of violence and abuse directed at retail staff every day.” One retail insider criticised Boris Johnson, who wore a mask on a recent trip to the London Ambulance HQ, for leaving it so late to tell shops full details of its rules.
The source said: “There is no clarity but plenty of frustration as everyone is waiting for the criteria to be published. It’s been left a little late.”
Britain’s biggest grocer Tesco said it will have face mask stands at entrances for forgetful shoppers, which they can pay for at checkout. But there was no enforcement policy.
Sainsbury’s revealed it would not “challenge customers” in its aisles as it was worried “they may have a reason not to wear a mask”. And the Co-op
said its staff would not question
those without masks but added: “It is the responsibility of all customers to ensure they are in adherence with the new legal requirements.”
Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she hoped most shoppers would follow the rules or be
“shamed into complying or to leave the store by staff or by other members of the public”. But she added: “Calling the police should be a last resort for dealing with a mask issue. But of course the law is the law.
“If somebody is concerned about what is going on in their store, yes, of course they should call the police and we will try to assist.”
Avon and Somerset Police chief constable Andy Marsh said his force has “very limited capacity” to impose the rules.
He added: “It certainly won’t be the case that we will be encouraging people to call us if you see someone not wearing a face mask. And I can’t offer any assurance that officers will be able to attend such incidents.”
Thames Valley and Devon and Cornwall police forces said they would only attend if scenes turned violent.