Confusion over face mask rules as businesses and shoppers await clarity

There is confusion over the new face mask rule, as businesses could not confirm if it will apply to them and police have warned it could be impossible to enforce.

Face coverings will be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from July 24, with hospitality businesses understood to be exempt.

However, a consumer expert said there were several grey areas in the rules which needed to be clarified, which could lead to confusion among customers and business owners.

These include whether masks will be required in cafes located within stores and whether customers can be asked to remove their covering for the purposes of identification.

Pret a Manger said it was awaiting Government guidance to confirm whether it, and similar businesses, would be included. John Lewis is also waiting for guidance on its in-store cafes.

Social media users questioned why the rules will not be implemented for another 10 days and why pubs were not included.

Martyn James, a consumer expert at Resolver, said: "The messaging hasn't got through to people. Half of people think they should be wearing them now and half don't, and anywhere which is both a shop and a cafe is a grey area. We need some clarity."

In Scotland, where face coverings are already mandatory, they do not apply to hospitality businesses, while on trains passengers are allowed to remove their masks to eat, Avanti West Coast said.

More detailed guidance is expected from the Government.

JD Sports chief executive Peter Cowgill told the BBC that “inconsistencies and indecisiveness” over masks will have an impact on consumer confidence.

He said the guidance appears to have come late in the pandemic and questioned why it is delayed until July 24.

Meanwhile, police warned the rules could prove impossible to enforce.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said there were not enough officers available to hand out fines to those who flouted the law and that shopkeepers needed to “step up to the plate”.

He added: “We'll be driving around and around London looking for people who aren't wearing masks, it's absolutely absurd."

Responding to the announcement the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) issued a brief statement which said: "Once we have full details of the new legislation we will issue police officers with guidance on their role in enforcement."

The NPCC later said it was "unaware" that the announcement was due to be made on Monday.

Retailers said that denying shoppers entry for failing to wear a face covering could lead to “flashpoints” or violence.

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), said: “We are pleased that the legal responsibility for enforcing this policy will rest with the police rather than shopworkers, but in reality it will be retailers and their colleagues trying to communicate and explain this to people with different views and approaches to complying with this policy.”

The ACS said face masks could also make it harder to catch shoplifters and that there could be confusion around asking customers for identification.

Mr Lowman added: “The wearing of face coverings in stores presents a number of additional challenges, including identifying customers for age-restricted sales like alcohol and tobacco, and dealing with repeat offenders who are looking to use a face covering to hide their identity.”

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the safety of staff and customers was the top priority.

She added: “Retailers have already spent hundreds of millions installing perspex screens, implementing social distancing measures and providing additional cleaning in stores; we hope this announcement will make shoppers feel even more confident about returning to the high street.”