Bus drivers need more help over the wearing of face coverings as fines against passengers ignoring the law are “vanishingly rare”, according to a leading union.
Unite warned that new penalties for people refusing to wear a mask may make “little difference” unless enforcement is properly resourced.
The union, which represents more than 70,000 bus drivers across the UK, said its research suggested that just 38 fines or fixed penalty notices were issued outside London in the three months to August, and 368 in the capital.
Unite has been pressing bus companies to utilise their own enforcement officers or work with Government-appointed Covid marshals to prevent passengers without face coverings from boarding buses.
Unite national officer Bobby Morton said: “Penalties for those who refuse to comply with the law on face coverings on public transport are vanishingly rare.
“So increasing the fines for not wearing a face covering will make little difference unless they are alongside stricter and more rigorous enforcement.
“While the vast majority of passengers are complying with the rules, a significant minority are not.
“It is no good introducing further restrictions in public life if the Government has not also resourced their enforcement.
“We are also calling on bus operators to work with the Government to ensure that passengers refusing to wear face coverings cannot board buses.
“What needs to be totally understood is that bus drivers cannot and will not enforce the wearing of masks. Their job is to get passengers to their destination safely, not to police public health.”
