Portsmouth traders and shoppers raise frustrations over wearing 'suffocating' masks

New rules introduced on Friday meant police were handed powers to dish out £100 fines to people in shops, shopping centres, banks, takeaways, post offices, sandwich shops and supermarkets in England who flout the rules.

The first weekend of trading since the unprecedented measure came in saw masks commonplace with consumers largely prepared to follow the guidance.

Many traders, while also following the advice, insisted they would not be strictly enforcing the measures, though.

Others declared that forcing people to wear a mask was not a matter for them - but the police.

Babajan Najib, supervisor of food outlet Ken’s Kebabs, on Albert Road, Southsea, said: ‘People should wear masks but we are not allowed to tell them they have to (put a mask on). Our boss told us it is not our job. It is just the police who can tell people.’

Mr Najib said staff at the eatery - which rose to prominence before the coronavirus outbreak in January when a viral video showed a late-night brawl as an unflappable customer continued to eat his kebab - could be in the line of fire with customers over the new measures.

‘Am I worried to tell people to put a mask on? Yes of course I am. I’m worried they would not be happy and might start fighting.

‘Not a lot of people have been wearing a mask but we can’t say anything when it’s busy - people don’t listen to us. It’s a big problem.

‘We try our best to keep our distance and only allow four people in at a time.’

Other independent traders admitted they were frustrated with the new guidance. ‘It’s terrible,’ a spokesman for electrical shop Southern TV on Albert Road said.

‘I get all steamed up and it’s harder to talk with people.’

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It is not compulsory for shop workers to wear face coverings but the government said it ‘strongly’ recommended that employers consider their use where appropriate.

But the worker added: ‘The government have told us to wear one - they haven’t specified it properly. I don’t want a £100 fine as I’m not sure if I have to wear one.

‘The customers have been fine wearing a mask. I have plenty of spares for people.’

Kathy Langford, owner of Langford Antiques in Southsea, called the new guidance a ‘palaver’ and said she hoped it ‘didn’t go on for too long’ amid talk it could last two years.

She said: ‘Everyone has been amazing. They put on the sanitiser and mask and then enter the shop. It’s part of the normal routine.

‘I would feel differently if I had to wear a mask whilst lugging heavy luggage.

‘There’s only been one person it has not worked for. Normally I would refuse people or tell them to put a mask on.

‘If there’s only one customer in the shop I don’t mind if they are not wearing a mask. If others come in the shop they would have to put it on.’

Julie Kelly, owner of record shop Sounds in Albert Road, said: ‘Everyone has been fine wearing a mask. I just have a joke with them and say I will fine them £100 if they don’t.

‘If there’s only one customer in the shop then they don’t have to wear one - the masks suffocate you. I think it will take a week or two for people to get used to it.’

Outside Sounds, customers admitted they were wearing masks reluctantly. Eric Cousins, 73, of Fareham, said: ‘I don’t like it. I don’t think they do a lot. And what if people have dirty hands and then touch the masks?

‘You see some people not wearing them in shops so you wonder what the point is. The government brought them in too late - they should have done it before.’

Paul Maidment, 58, of Fareham, said: ‘I work in care so am used to wearing them but the government brought it in too late - they made the announcement before waiting 10 days to do it.

‘I would normally browse longer but just go in and out of shops now so will probably spend less.

‘The masks are expensive too. Fifty masks cost £5 before lockdown and now can cost £50.’

There was also antipathy among shoppers in Commercial Road in the city centre.

Marilyn Croxford, 67 of Cowplain, who co-owns the Sunshine Day Centre in Waterlooville, said: ‘I struggle to wear them - I’ve gone through several already.

‘I find them claustrophobic and scary - it is a constant reminder of what is going on. This is the first time I’ve been to the city since lockdown and it feels like a different world now.

‘Many elderly people will struggle to breathe wearing masks and some - especially those with dementia - will forget to have one.’

Bognor Regis couple Janice and Tony Thompson, 65 and 75 respectively, found their masks difficult to wear. ‘I can’t wear my one properly,’ Janice said. ‘It is annoying after a while.’

Tony added: ‘It’s something we just have to do but they should have brought it in before - it’s too late now.’

Southsea pair Jenny and Steve Boulter did not mind wearing a mask. ‘I don’t have a problem with it,’ Jenny, 60, said. ‘People had the choice before so it is not a big deal.’

Steve, 63, added: ‘It’s fair to leave it to police to enforce. The shops have enough to do.’

Workers in retail chains in Commercial Road told The News they would ask people to wear a mask but admitted they would not stop shoppers entering the store if they did not.

Some customers in Greggs and Starbucks in Guildhall Walk were seen not wearing masks.

The stance was echoed by many major supermarkets with Sainsbury’s saying ‘our colleagues will not be responsible for enforcing them’ while Asda said

‘it is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to police and enforce the new rules’.

Costa Coffee said it would ‘not be challenging customers’ who are not wearing a mask ‘since they may have a legitimate reason as to why they are unable to wear one’.

But John Apter, the national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said forces ‘do not have the resources’ to widely enforce the law.

He said: ‘It is our members who are expected to police what is a new way of living and I would urge retail outlets to play their part in making the rules crystal clear – if you are not wearing a face covering then you are not coming in.

‘Officers will be there to help stores if needed – but only as a last resort, as we simply do not have the resources.’

Venues like restaurants, pubs, gyms, hairdressers, beauty salons, leisure centres, cinemas, concert halls and theatres are exempt from the new rules.

Other exemptions to face coverings include children under 11, people with breathing problems and anyone who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability.

The guidance states that people should ‘assume’ it is standard to wear a face covering when visiting a hospital, GP, care home or other primary or community healthcare setting.

The laws could be in place until at least January, and even last a year, unless the government decides to scrap them in the meantime.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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