Police criticised for ‘fining exempt customers’ for not wearing masks
Police have been criticised for allegedly fining shop customers who are exempt from face covering restrictions for not wearing masks.
Three former police and crime commissioner candidates have signed an open letter after West Midlands Police officers reportedly fined a customer who said she was exempt from wearing a mask in Farmfoods in Dudley.
Officers previously challenged a man with an exemption and asked him to leave a Sainsbury’s store in Oldbury – and have since posted an apology to him and his wife.
The open letter, signed by Bill Etheridge, Keith Rowe and Pete Durnell who stood for the PCC post in the UKIP party in 2012, 2014 and 2016 respectively, calls for more guidance for officers and an apology for “the Farmfoods incident”.
The Government has stated exemptions to the mask rule includes hidden conditions such as anxiety or panic disorders, autism, breathing difficulties, dementia, reduced vision or if you are with someone who relies on lip reading to communicate.
It has also stated: “People are not required to prove they are exempt and it is for individuals to choose how they would want to communicate this to others.”
The open letter to West Midlands Police states: “There is no ‘difficult line to walk’. Officers just need to understand the guidance.
“Adopting the attitude ‘sorry, we’re going to issue you with a fine anyway, and you can then contest it in court’ is completely incorrect and absolutely unacceptable.
“If a similar attitude were to be adopted by all serving WMP officers – insisting on issuing fines to people with genuine reasons for being exempt […] some of the most vulnerable members of our society will either rapidly ‘clock up’ multiple fines […] or will become too scared to enter shops for fear this might happen.
“Neither of these situations is acceptable.”
Committed
Responding to the letter, Chief Superintendent Andy Beard, said: “These are challenging times for the public and police alike. We would rather we didn’t have to police Covid-19 legislation but it is important we do to limit the spread of the virus and save lives.
“Officers have been asked both regionally and nationally to enforce against people they suspect are flouting Covid-19 laws.
“Most people are adhering to the restrictions and we thank everyone who is doing their bit to help us through this pandemic.
“Our approach remains that officers will engage with the public, explain the regulations and encourage people to follow them. In the minority of cases where this doesn’t happen then we will take action to enforce the restrictions.
“We continue to urge the public to follow the rules, the greater effort we can all make now to prevent the spread of the virus, the greater opportunities we may have to enjoy our festive celebrations.
“We are committed to keeping our communities safe from the virus.”
