Major high street retailers have revealed they will not ask staff to enforce a law that requires them to make face masks compulsory in shops in England. Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, and the Co-op are among stores that refuse to police the rule that comes with a £100 non-compliance fine. The stores instead, are urging shoppers to “play their part”.
An article on The Guardian quoted Jo Whitfield who runs Co-op's 2,600 grocery stores, as saying staff already receive abuse from shoppers on a daily basis. “We'll have in-store signage on the new rules around face coverings but we are clear that shop workers should not enforce the new legislation,” he said. “On a daily basis they face abuse, threatening behaviour and even physical assault. Our own figures show that during the Covid-19 crisis such instances have risen and enforcing the wearing of face masks could be another flashpoint.”
Meanwhile, National chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter said forces “do not have the resources” to widely enforce the law. “It is our members who are expected to police what is a new way of living and I would urge retail outlets to play their part in making the rules crystal clear – if you are not wearing a face covering then you are not coming in,” he said.
UK's second-largest supermarket chain, Sainsburys said posters are being displayed inside and outside stores and there would be regular announcements over public address systems. However, “Our colleagues will not be responsible for enforcing them.”
