Sainsbury’s, Asda and Costa Coffee say they WON’T enforce facemasks rules as new law comes in requiring everyone to wear face coverings in all shops from TODAY
- Sainsbury’s, Asda and Costa Coffee are refusing to force people to wear masks
- Government guidance states coverings must be worn in shops across England
- Boris Johnson is asking retailers to encourage customers to follow the law with police saying they are unwilling to enforce laws unless as ‘last resort’
By JASON GROVES POLITICAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL and JACK WRIGHT FOR MAILONLINE
Sainsbury’s, Asda and Costa Coffee have said they will not police new coronavirus laws which force customers to wear face masks in all shops from today.
The major retailers say they have no intention of enforcing new rules which will punish people who refuse to cover their faces with a £100 fine.
Government guidance published yesterday states that masks must be worn in shops, supermarkets and shopping centres across England.
Britons must also wear masks in banks, takeaway outlets, post offices and sandwich shops – including when buying food and drink to take out from cafes.
With police unwilling to enforce the new laws, though, the Government has asked retailers to ‘take reasonable steps to encourage customers to follow the law, including through signs and providing other information in store’.
