Two men have been fined £200 each for breaking national coronavirus lockdown rules by not wearing face masks while shopping in an Aldi supermarket.
They were spotted by police entering a store in the Knowsley area of Merseyside, in the West Midlands, at 6.30pm yesterday.
As well as not wearing masks the pair, aged 18 and 21, also failed to socially distance from other shoppers, according to the police.
When they left the supermarket the men were approached by the officers and given fines for non-compliance with Covid regulations.
Knowsley Community Policing Inspector Peter Rexwinkel said: ‘We know that rates of Coronavirus in the Knowsley area are at a very high level and it is important that we do all that we can to reduce the numbers and keep people safe.
Two men have been fined for breaking national coronavirus lockdown rules by not wearing face masks while shopping in an Aldi supermarket
‘We all have a part to play and I would continue to urge people to abide by the lockdown rules – don’t go out unless for essential work, shopping or exercise and when you do go into shops and businesses please wear and mask and abide by social distancing.
‘We will continue to work with all our partners to ensure that these messages keep going across and that action is taken against people who chose to flout them.
‘It is really important, particularly at this critical time that we protect ourselves, our loved ones and the NHS.’
It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel warned a minority of the public are ‘putting the health of the nation at risk’ by refusing to observe lockdown rules.
Some people don’t have to wear a mask if they have a valid exemption, such as it causing them severe distress or because of a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability – and they do not have to carry proof.
But concerns are mounting that others are simply breaking the law because they don’t want to wear one – and Ms Patel revealed that nearly 45,000 fixed penalty notices have been issued in the UK since March.
National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt warned those caught not wearing a mask on a bus or train ‘can expect a fine’ unless they are exempt – and police would no longer ‘waste time’ trying to reason with people such as those who disagree with the rules.
He said: ‘Not wearing a face covering on a bus or a train is dangerous. It risks the lives of other travellers including those critical workers who must continue to use public transport to do their important work.’
A string of supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have now pledged to get tougher with customers who refuse to wear face coverings by denying them entry to their stores.
Britain’s most senior police officer, Dame Cressida Dick, said Metropolitan Police officers would be prepared to assist shop staff if customers became ‘obstructive and aggressive’ when told they must wear a face covering.
Some people don’t have to wear a mask if they have a valid exemption, such as it causing them severe distress or because of a physical or mental illness. Pictured: People wear masks as they leave a Tesco Extra store in Cradley Heath, Dudley
It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel warned a minority of the public are ‘putting the health of the nation at risk’ by refusing to observe lockdown rules. Pictured: A shopper leaves a Tesco Extra store in Cradley Heath, Dudley, earlier this week. It is not known whether he has an exemption to wearing a face mask, or removed it after walking through the exit
One incident this earlier this week at a Morrisons store in Peckham, South East London, saw a construction worker clash with a store security guard when he was refused entry to the store for not wearing a mask.
The shopper angrily told the guard that he did not have to wear a mask because he had a medical condition.
But the guard said he was not wearing a certificate exempting him around his neck and refused to allow him in.
A customer at a Morrisons store in Leeds was seen with his mask pulled down while shopping in the supermarket earlier this week
During the stand-off, the shopper pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, insisting it was a Government-issued exemption certificate.
After examining it, the guard told the man that as he was not wearing it around his neck, he would not be allowed into the store.
The disgruntled construction worker, who was trying to buy some breakfast, told MailOnline: ‘It’s quite ridiculous. How am I supposed to wear this certificate around my neck every time I go into a shop?
‘I’ve never had this problem before but clearly the supermarkets are getting a lot tougher about imposing the mask rule.
‘I’ve got a medical reason for not wearing a mask and always make sure that I carry my exemption certificate with me.