Police have fined one person for failing to wear a face mask in Bristol since they became compulsory in shops.
Avon and Somerset police issued a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to a man in his 30s for refusing to wear a face covering on September 5.
The force says the man was in the Sainsbury’s supermarket off St Philip’s Causeway at the time.
People who refuse to wear a face mask when required face a £100 fine because of rules introduced amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They have been mandatory on public transport since June 15, in shops since July 24 and in various other indoor settings since August 8, except for those with a special exemption.
An Avon and Somerset police spokesman explained why the force has only handed out one fine since the rule was introduced in stores.
He said: “Officers across Avon and Somerset are busy tackling and preventing crimes and providing the policing service our communities expect.
“Demand levels have returned to pre-lockdown levels which makes it crucially important that we all take personal responsibility, stick to the rules and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“The vast majority of the public are abiding by the regulations and following the guidance in place. However, a small minority are making decisions which put lives at risk.
“When officers are able to attend incidents in which members of the public are refusing to wear face coverings they – as they have done throughout the pandemic – look to engage, explain and encourage individuals to follow the rules.
“Fines will be issued to those who refuse to comply and we have issued 385 fixed penalty notices to date to those who’ve wilfully ignored our warnings for breaching the regulations."
The spokesman pointed out enforcement does not always mean the issuing of a fine.
"Officers also have the power to disperse groups," he said.
"And enforcement shouldn’t always equal police involvement – individuals, businesses and a range of agencies all have a responsibility for ensuring premises are compliant, Covid-secure and are doing everything they can to suppress the virus.”
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A Freedom of Information request by Reboot Digital showed most police forces in England have yet to issue a fine for failure to wear a face mask.
But it also revealed British Transport Police stopped 50,729 people between June 30 and September 8.
The force made 3,545 ‘interventions’ in which train passengers not wearing face coverings were asked to leave.
It issued 51 fixed penalty notices to people not wearing face masks on trains.
