North Yorkshire Police says only “as a last resort” will officers issue £100 fines to people not wearing face masks in shops.
From tomorrow, it will become mandatory in shops to wear face masks or face coverings to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
NYP also urged the public not to call 999 to report people for not wearing a face mask. Instead, reports should be made online.
The Stray Ferret has published a list of local retailers selling face masks.
Superintendent Charlotte Bloxham, silver commander for the response to Covid-19, said:
“Since the new regulations were announced, we have been liaising with local retailers to explain how we will police these new regulations.
“Demand on our service is almost back to normal pre-coronavirus levels, so we have to prioritise where we deploy our officers.
“We will take a sensible approach to enforcement and hope people understand that we cannot attend every incident. To that end, please bear this in mind before reporting anyone for not wearing a face-covering.
“To help keep our phone lines free for urgent policing matters, we urge anyone who wishes to report a breach of the regulations, to do so via our online coronavirus reporting form which can be found on our website. Please only call if a situation escalates and your safety is threatened.”
Read more:
- Where can you buy a face mask in Harrogate?
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‘Impossible’ to enforce face masks in Harrogate shops, says police federation
An Oxford University study found that face masks are effective in protecting the wearer from the virus as well as everyone around them.
Last week, the Stray Ferret spoke to Rob Bowles, chair of the North Yorkshire Police Federation who said issuing fines would be “impossible and impractical.”
Several retailers in Harrogate also said mandatory face coverings could put people off coming to the town.
Clare Nelson, manager at menswear shop Porters, said:
“I would feel uncomfortable telling customers to wear a face covering. If a big group of lads were to walk in without them I don’t think I would be able to tell them to wear one. It might put people off coming into the shop. I don’t think we would be able to enforce this.”
