Shop Puts Sign Up Asking Customers Not To Cover Faces In Store

A convenience store has put up a sign asking customers not to cover their faces - despite new laws requiring face masks to be worn in shops to halt the spread of Covid-19.

The sign, at the Nisa Local store in Danesmoor near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, tells customers they should not cover their faces in store for 'security reasons'.

Derby Telegraph/BPM Media

The sign at Nisa, written in capital letters, reads: "For security reasons, pls do not cover your face or head in this shop."

According to the manager of the Pilsley Road store, who did not want to be named, he is allowing people to wear masks inside.

Explaining the reason behind the sign, he said: "I am allowing people to wear masks - maybe I've worded the sign badly - but we get a lot of shoplifting and if they've got a mask on, I can't prosecute them.

"What if someone comes in with a knife and threatens my staff, but they're wearing a mask? What am I meant to do? If someone's wearing a hood, I ask them to take it down.

"No-one seems to have thought of the security of people working in shops in all this. We do get shoplifting here and, on the last occasion, the guy was wearing a mask.

"Am I meant to just keep losing money? I've now been made to feel like the criminal."

Derby Telegraph/BPM Media

The shopkeeper said that when the pandemic started spreading in the UK, he began wearing a mask early on.

But he said he was 'ridiculed for it' and believes 'we should've been wearing them from the start, but only now, after the horse has bolted, have the new rules come in'.

He added: "If people want to wear a mask or face covering for health or religious reasons, then that's not a problem; I'll be changing the wording of the sign to reflect that.

"When I've told people wearing a mask they don't need to, they generally say 'good' and take it off. I think a lot of people are more worried about getting fined than catching the virus."

A spokesperson for Nisa told LADbible: "Nisa is focused on the safety of partners, colleagues and customers. We regularly communicate with Nisa's partners and advise on adherence with government guidelines and best practice.

"However, Nisa partners are independent and therefore ultimately they make their own decisions within their businesses."

According to government regulations, people found flouting the masks rules could face a fine of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus, UK

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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