People not wearing face masks on Manchester trams, buses and trains risk £6k fine

Passengers on trams, buses and trains across Greater Manchester could be barred from services and slapped with fines if they continuously refuse to wear a face mask.

Just one day on from face masks once again becoming mandatory in all shops and on public transport, passengers across the region are being encouraged to comply with the new rules and regulations or risk face ‘tougher action’.

Greater Manchester Police, British Transport Police and Community Support Officers can enforce punishments on those who refuse to wear a face mask, with fines starting at £200 (reduced to £100 if paid within fourteen days), rising to £400 for a second offence, up to £800 for the third, and up to a maximum of £6,400 in the case of a sixth and subsequent fixed penalty notices.

TFGM

Transport operators also have the power to direct someone to wear a face mask and deny access or ask them to leave if they don’t have a legitimate excuse.

TfGM’s head of operations Alex Cropper said on the new rules: “As of part of the latest government measures to slow the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, you must, by law, now wear a face covering on all public transport.”

He added that their focus had been on education, engagement and encouraging passengers to comply which includes handing out free masks, which are available and free at all transport interchanges.

He added: “Police officers and transport staff will continue to patrol our networks, and while we will continue to adopt this approach, those refusing to comply could be prevented from using a service or issued with a fine.

“For everyone’s safety and wellbeing, we’d encourage all passengers to be considerate of one another and wear a face covering, unless exempt.”

The regulations were reintroduced yesterday as part of the government’s response to the new Omicron variant, which is said to be ‘more transmissible and have more mutations which could weaken the effect of vaccines and natural immunity.’ 

A statement from the Government said: “From 4am Tuesday November 30th, face coverings will be compulsory in shops and other settings such as banks, post offices and hairdressers, as well as on public transport unless individuals are exempt from doing so.”