Rejected petition Allow retail employees the right to enforce wearing a mask to customers in shops

Rejected on 17 December 2020

To support retail workers in being able to enforce mask wearing or proof of exemption to customers when entering a shop to further protect both staff and other customers.

It will slow down the infection rate and protect more people from contracting the virus.

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action. We're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

It is already a legal requirement to wear face coverings in shops, and premises can take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law. However, enforcing fines and criminal offences such as the above is a matter for law enforcement and other authorised bodies.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

You could start a petition calling for extra resource to support the police to enforce mask wearing in indoor settings including retail venues, if that's something you'd like to see happen.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.