Telegraph readers on social distancing rage: 'Supermarket staff are not equipped to deal with violence'
Demands for supermarket staff to enforce mask-wearing and social distancing rules have created a major flashpoint for “abuse, threats and violence”, the boss of Co-op Food, Jo Whitfield, has said.
Social distancing enforcement has become the top cause of attacks and aggression against shop workers, according to retail workers’ union Usdaw. Telegraph readers have had their say on whether shop workers should be responsible for enforcing the rules on face masks and social distancing.
Read on for the best discussion points from our readers and share your own view in the comments section at the bottom of this article.
‘I have been barked at several times’
@Miles Ahead:
“Some retailers are unnecessarily officious – I have been "barked" at several times for crossing a taped line on the floor (that wasn't there the previous week), or for approaching the checkout before being invited. Suffice it to say that I no longer give that store my custom.”
‘Supermarket staff are not equipped to deal with violence’
@Jan Goff:
“While attacks and rudeness are inexcusable and need punishment, the fact they are rising suggests to me that endless months of isolation, job losses, home schooling and the lack of treatment for illnesses other than covid is driving some to the brink of their abilities to cope.
“The Co-op is quite right in saying that it is not their role to enforce the rules. Their staff are not paid enough and are not equipped to deal with violence.”
‘Some people just hate being told to do anything’
@J Adams:
“This nasty element who abuse shop workers are shameful. Some people just hate being told to do anything. Don't take it out on front line staff on minimum wage.”
‘Supermarkets do not have judicial powers of enforcement’
@Vernon Skinner:
“I was accosted by Morrisons staff for not wearing a face covering and vilely intimidated, humiliated and bullied into wearing one against my will. That is nothing less than abuse. That was two days ago and I am still traumatised.
“I am a law-abiding, intelligent citizen who can make up my own mind on whether I think mask-wearing is beneficial or not. Supermarket staff do not have judicial powers of enforcement in this matter.”
‘In France, mask-wearing is universally enforced’
@walter morgan:
“I’m at a loss as to why British shops have difficulty enforcing mask wearing. I’ve recently spent four months in France where mask-wearing was universally enforced ever since my arrival during early July.
“In the early days I was admonished sharply by shop owners and managers a few times because they deemed my mask inadequate. I stepped up my game. It was normal to find security staff at large store entrances enforcing masks and hand sanitising.
“Why are we British finding a problem? Do we have more aggressive customers than the French? Are our shop staff too timid? Won't larger shops stump up for security staff?”
‘I feel so intimidated that I have started covering my mouth with a scarf’
@Vlad The Inhaler:
“I'm technically exempt from wearing a mask because I have asthma and genuinely find it difficult to breathe when there is something covering my mouth. However, I now feel so intimidated by the large bouncers and plentiful signs barring entry without a face covering that I have started covering my mouth with a scarf.
“Shopping has become such an unpleasant experience that I tend to flash in and out as fast as possible. I don't make eye contact with or speak to anyone and don't buy anything I don't need. I would have my shopping delivered but it is impossible to get a slot for weeks. No wonder everyone is becoming stressed, depressed and frustrated.”
‘You don’t have to explain why you don’t wear a mask’
@C Lawrence:
“If supermarkets stopped challenging people so harshly this wouldn’t happen. 'I am exempt' is a perfectly legal explanation of why someone is not wearing a mask. You don’t have to explain why, or wear a lanyard.”
‘Mask-wearing in supermarkets should be incentivised’
@Miss Winter:
“I don't see why mask-wearing in supermarkets couldn't be incentivised. Many people engage with the various incentives offered through loyalty schemes.
If something like that would help prevent staff from abuse and aid the safety of customers, which is a duty of care, then why not?”
‘Supermarkets should rely on individuals to make their own decisions’
@Sharka Shark:
“Given that social distancing has never been in any of the regulations, it is unenforceable even by the police. As for face coverings, there is a self-declared exemption in the regulations and the guidance quite clearly states one is not required to explain or show anything.
“Hence, Co-op (and every other supermarket) can quite readily avoid these attacks by changing its own misguided actions and relying on individuals making individual decisions.”
‘You do not have to carry written proof of exemption’
@Graham Fletcher:
“The point is the legislation has holes in: you must wear a mask unless exempt, but you do not have to carry written proof of exemption (because GPs refuse to get involved in the exemption game and will not issue any certificates).
“So when the police or shop ask you to prove you are exempt there is no official paperwork to show. So it comes down to their interpretation or opinion of whether you have a genuine disability, which is nonsense and contrary to previous disability legislation.”
‘Nobody has the right to abuse shop staff’
@Pantodon Buchholzi
“A man threatened to break the nose of the cashier in my local Aldi this morning. The cashier just reminded him that unless exempt he should be wearing a mask – nobody stopped the guy from shopping, nobody shouted at him, just gave him a polite reminder.
“Now I personally think masks are a complete waste of time but that still doesn’t give anyone the right to abuse shop staff.”
‘Shop staff should not be expected to quiz people on their health status’
@RT PT
“Shop staff should clearly not be subjected to abuse, however they also should not be expected to police government policy or quiz people on their health status. Nor should their employers be using it for marketing purposes – Tesco, Sainsbury’s and others are currently advertising that they’re ‘keeping you safe’ by doing this.”
‘Badges may help to reduce confrontations in shops’
@C Rostill:
“Some councils issue badges for people who are exempt from having to wear a face covering.
“Some people may not wish to display that they have a health issue but they may help to reduce confrontations in shops and other places.”
‘The police should control people who don’t know how to behave’
@Hugh Soden
“Assaulting supermarket staff is the lowest of the low – the people who have been in danger from this disease when they are front of house, face to face with a belligerent public, and many are exhausted after working long hours and looking after their family.
“Come on police, stop fining walkers and get into supermarkets to administer the law and control the public who don't know how to behave.”
‘If the regulations are difficult to enforce, that’s not the fault of shopworkers’
@Martin Sach:
“The solution is simple, leave it to the police. In the regulations there is nothing to require retail staff to play an enforcement role. If the government makes regulations that are difficult to enforce and provides no means by which they can be enforced other than by the police, that is not the fault of shop workers.”
‘It’s typical of this government’s lack of respect for the rule of law’
@Alison Deighan:
“It's a complete farce for shop workers to be expected to challenge customers, the small minority of whom will unfortunately fly off the handle posing risks to the poor retail staff, who aren't responsible for these rules. They are also able to do nothing whatsoever if the customer claims to be exempt. Or, if deciding to ask customers to leave, businesses risk breaching equality law.
“It's completely ridiculous, and typical of this government's unfortunate lack of respect for the rule of law. They are apparently too short-sighted to see that, if you instrumentalise unenforceable law as a means of petty control, you stoke resentments and undermine respect for the law.”
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