Supermarket workers facing torrent of 'mask rage' as historic levels of abuse recorded

Supermarket workers are facing a worrying rise of "mask rage", with the Co-op reporting that staff had suffered historic levels of abuse since new regulations were enacted.

The retailer said it had recorded 990 incidents of antisocial behaviour and verbal abuse between Monday, July 20 and Sunday, July 26, two days after masks were made compulsory in shops.

Almost all confrontations were related to the wearing of face masks, with "flashpoints" occurring when people were asked to follow the guidance and when young consumers were asked to remove masks to check ID when buying alcohol.

A Co-op spokesman told The Grocer magazine: "We've seen a marked rise in abuse, threats and even assaults on shop workers during the Covid crisis and believe this could be another flashpoint.

"That's why we continue to campaign for greater protection, with a new offence which dishes out stiffer sentences to those guilty of harming shop workers."

July 24 marked the first day that people in England were legally obliged to wear a face covering (see video above) in shops, shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, post offices, sandwich shops and supermarkets.

There has been a mixed response to the mask rules among retailers, with some employing Covid-19 compliance officers and turning customers away from branches if they do not have face coverings.

However others, such as Sainsbury's and Asda have said they will not be challenging customers without masks and the police have said they will only enforce the rules and £100 fines as a "last resort".

The regulations also do not require shop workers to wear masks, which has led to ill feeling among some customers. Last week, the British Medical Association (BMA) said shop staff should be wearing face coverings in the same way customers are required to.

In a survey published last week, 37 per cent of respondents said they had witnessed furious rows when individuals break the rules over masks in shops and on public transport.

According to an Ipsos Mori and King's College poll, one in eight people had been confronted or reported for not wearing a mask – the equivalent of around six million Britons.

Before the mask rules were brought in, unions warned that supermarket staff would face the brunt of public anger because the rules were not clear.

The mask regulations will extend to museums, cinemas and places of worship in England from August 8. Boris Johnson said face coverings will be compulsory in indoor settings in which people are likely to come into contact with others they do not know.

He said this would mean "a greater police presence to ensure face coverings are being worn where this is required".