A small minority of people are breaking the law by failing to wear a face covering on public transport, says Transport for London (TfL). Since June 15, it has been the law for passengers to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth for their entire journey, including in stations and on platforms, unless they are exempt. TfL reports more than 90 per cent compliance at the busiest times of the day.
But it adds a small number continue to put public health at risk by flouting the law. TfL says that its enforcement officers, alongside officers from the Metropolitan Police (Met) and British Transport Police (BTP) are carrying out enforcement operations across the capital.
In early October enforcement operations – which target people failing to wear their face covering properly as well as those without one – took place on buses, trains and at stations across London, including Stratford; Notting Hill Gate; King’s Cross; Bexleyheath and Stamford Hill, with the vast majority of people able to produce or correct their face covering, or having a valid exemption.
TfL says that it uses information provided by bus drivers, station and other front-line staff about where there are issues of non-compliance, which it uses alongside other intelligence to determine where to deploy its officers.
Since July 4, when TfL enforcement officers moved to an enforcement phase after previously explaining the requirement and encouraging compliance, officers have carried out around 105,000 ‘interventions’ with people not wearing a face covering or not wearing it in the correct way covering the nose and mouth. Most complied after being spoken to by an officer. Around 7,600 were stopped from boarding and 1,800 people removed from services. Fixed penalty notices are a last resort, as the majority of Londoners do want to keep themselves and others safe, but they are used where necessary – with around 400 fines issued by TfL officers to those refusing to comply.
Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing Operations and Security at TfL, said: ‘To help protect everyone’s health and control the spread of the virus, it is essential that people wear face coverings. It is also hugely important for giving Londoners confidence to travel.
‘The vast majority of customers are protecting others by wearing a face covering properly unless they are exempt, and most people are very responsive when they are spoken to and will put one on or adjust it. But sadly, there is a selfish minority who are showing a complete disregard for everyone around them and who think it is ok to ignore the law.
‘It is those individuals our enforcement officers and the police are targeting through our enforcement operations, which are taking place across London at all times of day. My message to these individuals is: you will be caught and face a hefty fine or prosecution. We would rather people were sensible and follow the law, but we will take enforcement action when we need to.’
Background
TfL is running an advertising campaign to remind customers of the requirement to wear a face covering, as well as sending millions of customer emails, and targeting people through social media and on the TfL website. Signage is displayed in stations and on trains, alongside regular PA announcements. Face covering exemptions, and information on face covering exemption cards or badges can be found on the TfL website: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/face-coverings.
