Derbyshire police chief comments as new face covering rules come into force
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Coverings are now mandatory in places like supermarkets, indoor shopping centres and takeaways in a bid to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Police can hand out fines of up to £100 to individuals who do not comply – but some retailers say they will not enforce the rule.
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Hide AdKem Mehmet, Assistant Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “We will engage with anyone not following the new regulations on face coverings and explain why they are required to wear one.
"If someone refuses to wear a covering, and they are not exempt under the regulations, then we do have the power to issue fines but enforcement will be a last resort, as it has always been.
“We will be contacting retailers to encourage them to engage with customers who are not wearing a face covering before contacting the police.
“There are no plans to increase police presence in the county’s shopping areas purely to enforce the wearing of face coverings.
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Hide Ad"Our communities know that we all have a responsibility to stop the spread of Covid-19 and we are sure that the new regulations will be widely supported by the public of Derbyshire.”
The force has created an information sheet for retailers around the new legislation.
The information sheet can be viewed on Derbyshire Constabulary’s website.