Supermarket giant criticised for shoppers ‘walking in completely unchallenged” without masks

A supermarket giant has been “named and shamed” by Middlesbrough’s mayor over claims it’s failing to enforce Covid rules on masks.

Rising positive cases have been recorded on Teesside in recent days with concerns Middlesbrough is close to the Government stepping in with lockdown measures.

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston slammed eateries, bars and shops who’d failed to adhere to covid rules at a marathon three-hour Middlesbrough Council meeting on September 3.

He cast fire on Tesco on the back of concerns about shoppers ignoring mask laws at superstores around the town.

Preston said: “I think we should name and shame – I’ll name one today where I saw bad practices.

“I’m sorry for the staff, as I’m not picking on them, but I went into Tesco, on Corporation Road, for the fifth time in about eight days.”

Preston told the virtual chamber of his shock at the number of people “walking in completely unchallenged not covering their faces”.

The mayor added: “I believe Tesco staff have been told not to intervene as they don’t want to get in a confrontation – but we’ve got a culture of guidelines which are vague.

“We need the businesses to play a role in this.

“They’re being negligent and putting their own comfort ahead of peoples’ lives and their own comfort and profits ahead of our jobs and our health.”

In England, people must wear a face covering on public transport, in shops and supermarkets and shopping centres unless an exemption applies.

Government guidance states premises should take “reasonable steps” to ensure compliance with laws on face masks.

The police can take action if the public don’t comply without a valid exemption – with fines of up to £3,200 for repeat offenders.

The independent mayor’s naming of Tesco came after he called for a law for shop workers, pub staff and restaurant workers to cover their face.

“If you go around Europe, that’s what happens and it’s bloody obvious that should happen,” said Preston.

“But for some reason we’ve not got that going here.

“To my mind, we should be putting pressure on business owners and business managers to do that.”

The mayor told the virtual chamber there were several cases of pubs and restaurants hosting “shocking queues” last week which were not monitored or socially distanced.

His concerns came on the back of worries from Conservative group leader Cllr David Coupe – who feared “40 to 50%” of customers were not wearing masks in a major Middlesbrough supermarket.

The member for Stainton and Thornton said: “If you go to smaller supermarkets, the staff walk around without masks which is telling other people to do the same.

“There is also confusion about recording details in pubs and restaurants.

“Some are excellent, some are not.

“And some don’t do it because there is no rule to do it.

“What we need is definite rules – we don’t need approximations, we need something to tell people you should and will record details.

“Until this happens, and people start wearing masks, I think the situation is going to get worse.”

Signs at the front of Tesco stores instruct customers to wear face coverings with masks available to purchase at the front of the store if they have been forgotten.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority and we are encouraging all customers to follow our social distancing measures, including wearing face coverings when shopping with us.”