Several supermarkets have said they won’t be enforcing the new face mask rules

Several supermarkets have revealed they will not be questioning customers who don’t wear a mask from July 24th. 

The news comes as shop bosses have warned staff to turn a blind eye to customers who refuse to wear masks, due to fears they will be assaulted. 

From tomorrow, July 24th, shoppers will have to wear face masks or coverings in shops (including takeaways and coffee shops when taking food and drink away). 

The Association of Convenience Stores has said: “We have advised members not to challenge customers unwilling to wear a covering.”

Greater Manchester Police has confirmed they will only enforce wearing a mask ‘where necessary’.

Supermarkets have indicated that they will advise customers to wear coverings but many shoppers were confused as to how they will impose the new rules.

 Most shops have said they will provide posters at store entrances to remind shoppers it is compulsory.

Tesco has gone one step further and will be implementing face mask stands at entrances, so shoppers who have forgotten their mask can pick one up, put it on for their shop and pay at the checkout. Tesco has not put an enforcement policy in place. 

Sainsbury’s tweeted yesterday that it will not be challenging customers who do not wear a mask. 

Co-op said: “It is the responsibility of all non-exempt customers to ensure they are in adherence with the new legal requirements,” but added that their staff will not question those not wearing a face mask. 

Aldi sent an email to reassure customers that while they need to wear face coverings as per the new legislation in Aldi stores, they are available for purchase in every Aldi store and the ‘comprehensive safety measures in place’ at the start of the pandemic are ‘very much in place’. 

Waitrose has broken their silence with a simple tweet that clearly states: “We will not refuse entry to customers with exemptions in line with government guidance.”

Lidl have also confirmed they will not be challenging customers who don’t wear a facemask, saying this should ‘only be enforced by police and council enforcement officers’. 

Iceland has confirmed that they will not be putting their staff ‘at risk’ by asking them to police customers who don’t wear a mask. 

Iceland’s CEO added: “The UK cannot afford a second wave, so we all need to play our part and show care and consideration for each other.”

The Association of Convenience Stores – which has 33,500 members, has urged them to turn a ‘blind eye’ to those not wearing a mask as they were concerned about the repercussions.

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 a face covering.

“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.”

Figures show there has been a 40% rise in the number of verbal and physical assaults on shopworkers throughout the lockdown. Co-op is now rolling out body-worn security cameras to help protect workers and cut down shop crime. 

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) also said the safety of staff and customers was a priority. In a statement from the Chief Executive they said: While retailers will play their part in communicating the new rules on face coverings, they must not be the ones enforcing these rules.

“With hundreds of incidents of violence and abuse directed at retail staff every day, we welcome the announcement that enforcement will be left to the authorities, rather than potentially putting hardworking retail colleagues in harm’s way.”