Face mask fines to rise up to £3,200 as England lockdown eases from Saturday
Britons who repeatedly fail to wear face masks and organisers of illegal raves could face fines of thousands of pounds under tough new coronavirus measures.
Boris Johnson announced the crackdown on rule breakers as he revealed plans to ease England's lockdown from Saturday.
Currently, people who refuse to wear a face covering in mandatory settings – including shops and public transport – can expect a £100 penalty, which can be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
But under the new measures, this amount will double for subsequent offences up to a maximum of 3,200.
The UK will also see a clampdown on illegal gatherings of more than 30 people – with those responsible slapped with on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000.
Police chiefs have promised increased patrols to prevent unlicensed events following a spate of parties during the heatwave.
The Prime Minister unveiled the new restrictions as he set out guidance for the latest round of lockdown relaxations.
The next step in England’s virus "road map" was postponed from August 1 after a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.
However, Downing Street now appears confident that this has levelled off.
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Therefore, from August 15:
– Indoor theatre, music and performance venues will be able to reopen with socially distanced audiences.
– The piloting of spectators at sporting events will resume, with a limited number of fans expected to be allowed to watch the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre over the weekend.
– Casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and soft play centres will be allowed to reopen.
– “Close contact” beauty services such as facials, eyebrow threading and eyelash treatments will resume.
– Wedding receptions for up to 30 guests will be permitted.
– Pilots will take place at conference venues ahead of the expected resumption of business events from October 1 at the earliest.
The changes will not apply to areas subject to localised restrictions, including Leicester, Luton and the north of England.
Announcing the latest milestone, Mr Johnson said: “Most people in this country are following the rules and doing their bit to control the virus, but we must remain focused and we cannot be complacent.
“That is why we are strengthening the enforcement powers available to use against those who repeatedly flout the rules.
“At every stage I have said our plan to reopen society and the economy is conditional and that it relies on continued progress against the virus.
“Today, we are able to announce some further changes which will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed.
“However, as I have always said, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”
New guidance will also mean that staff offering “close contact” services, including hairdressers, will now have to wear a face mask as well as a clear visor.
The move, which follows new evidence from the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) is aimed at protecting customers and staff from respiratory droplets caused by sneezing, coughing, or speaking.
The guidance also applies to businesses that operate remotely, such as massage therapists working in people’s homes, and those learning in vocational training environments.
More detail on the new enforcement measures will be set out in the coming week.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she would not allow progress in tackling the virus to be undermined by “a small minority of senseless individuals”.
“These measures send a clear message – if you don’t cooperate with the police and if you put our health at risk, action will follow.”
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