Police body-cam footage shows a woman shopper angrily ranting at officers after being threatened with arrest for refusing to wear a mask in Sainsbury’s.
The female customer was asked to put on a face covering by police when she entered the supermarket branch in Oldbury, West Midlands.
She instead launched into an astonishing foul-mouthed rant during which she branded a fellow shopper ‘a sheep’ and declared: ‘The Government are full of s**t.’
But when the officer said he will arrest her, he bizarrely claimed he would apprehend her ‘for failing to give us the details if you’re breaching Covid restrictions’.
Coronavirus regulations mandate the wearing of face masks and coverings in enclosed public spaces, including supermarkets, and public transport.
Guidance from the College of Policing states that officers may deny entry to people who refuse to cover their faces or ask them to leave a premises.
Only constables may use reasonable force to remove someone where they have failed to comply with a direction to leave.
The guidance adds: ‘As a last resort, officers may issue a fixed penalty notice for breach of the Regulations or arrest where necessary.’
Video from October 13 shows the woman arguing with an officer and asking ‘Is this really what it has boiled down to? You’re forcing people to wear masks?’
The female customer was asked to put on a face covering by police when she recently entered the supermarket branch in Oldbury, West Midlands
She instead launched into an astonishing foul-mouthed rant during which she branded a fellow shopper ‘a sheep’ and declared: ‘The Government are full of s**t’
After being told ‘it’s the Government that are requesting people’ – she can be seen snapping back: ‘Well the Government is full of s**t to be honest.’
When she is told to obey ‘government law’, she rounds on a male shopper wearing a mask and tells him: ‘You all follow like a bunch of sheep.’
She then asks what would happen if she refuses to leave the store and the officer informs her she could be fined. The woman says ‘How are you going to fine me?’ and the officer replies: ‘We have to arrest you.’
She sniggers and says: ‘So you’re going to arrest me for not wearing a mask?’
The police officer then bizarrely tells her: ‘No we’re going to arrest you for failing to give us the details if you’re breaching Covid restrictions.’
The woman responds: ‘Do you know how much ******** this sounds. Its ridiculous’ before hurling her basket down in disgust and leaving the store.
Coronavirus regulations mandate the wearing of face masks and coverings in enclosed public spaces, including supermarkets, and public transport
Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to crack-down on lockdown rule-breakers and has ordered police chiefs to ramp up their enforcement of restrictions as she warned the minority must not be allowed to ‘endanger’ the ‘law-abiding majority’
The force released the footage on Twitter last night as they threatened they were ‘getting tough’ on people who refuse to wear masks in shops.
England was plunged into a four-week shutdown at midnight on Thursday after the Government’s scientists presented ‘dodgy coronavirus data’ to the public.
Last night anti-shutdown protesters and members of the Million Mask March clashed with police in London, leading to 104 arrests.
Earlier in the week, West Midlands Police revealed they slapped a £10,000 fine on the organiser of a birthday party in Bilston, Wolverhampton.
Taking to Twitter yesterday, the force wrote: ‘It’s simple: Unless you’re exempt, you MUST wear a mask. If you refuse, you can be fined. This video shows how one woman refused our requests at Sainsbury’s in Oldbury.
‘It’s more important than ever we all do our bit to keep each other safe from coronavirus.’
Chief Constable Dave Thompson tweeted the clip and wrote: ‘We are committed to engaging, education, encouraging and enforcing as a last resort.
‘However there can be no ambiguity by now that on public transport and in shops we must wear face coverings. Do it for others.’
The video divided opinion on social media but many blasted the woman’s ‘selfish’ and ‘arrogant’ actions.
One wrote: ‘Theres always one. Its not the police fault its law passed by the government. Simples if you dont abide by the law you can get fined.’
Another said: ‘This is why we’re in a second lockdown, because of selfish idiots like her.’ One Twitter user added: ‘Till these people have a family member die from this awful disease it won’t make any difference, they think it won’t happen to them’.
‘I find that woman’s attitude appalling. The situation is bad enough without causing grief like that for people that are just trying to do their job,’ another said.
One commented: ‘How arrogant can you be…what a smarmy little lowlife. Unless your exempt, wear a mask. It is not that difficult really is it..’
But another said: ‘Just another way the government can make abit of extra money off you knowing full well the masks aren’t working clearly.’
And one said: ‘I’m with this woman! Stop allowing yourselves to be so controlled!’
It comes as police chiefs this week have threatened to take tougher action on lockdown rule-breakers as they justify a clampdown on Covid-19 cases.
In other coronavirus developments:
- Tory MPs lashed the Government for using ‘dodgy coronavirus data’ to justify a second lockdown in an echo of Britain’s war to Iraq in 2002-03;
- Travel quarantine could be slashed from 14 days to just five under Government plans which would deliver a major boost to the travel industry;
- Coronavirus cases remained flat at 24,141 today despite the PM justifying lockdown by claiming the NHS is under threat from soaring hospitalisations;
- Cars are queuing outside Covid-19 testing centres in Liverpool as the city today kicks off England’s first city-wide mass testing scheme;
- Manchester students tore down fencing erected around their halls of residence by the university as they warned of their mental health.
Yesterday Leicestershire Police shared a video showing officers breaking up an illegal house party and blasted the ‘small minority’ of flouters.
Assistant Chief Constable Kerry Smith also warned that the force would ‘use enforcement if rules are broken’ as England was plunged into a shutdown last night.
A four-week lockdown is due to end on December 2 but the Government has failed to give a firm guarantee it will not try to extend the measures.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to crack-down on lockdown rule-breakers and has ordered police chiefs to ramp up their enforcement of restrictions as she warned the minority must not be allowed to ‘endanger’ the ‘law-abiding majority’.
But she has ruled out breaking up family gatherings on Christmas Day after furious Conservative MPs urged ministers to halt the heavy-handed approach.
Body-cam footage shows officers raiding a party on Atkins Street in Leicester and finding revellers hiding in the bathroom and under the bed.
Leicestershire Police last week revealed that the organiser of the Atkins Street flat party ‘attracted’ a £10,000 fixed-penalty notice (FPN). A spokesperson for the force would not confirm if the organiser was fined the ruinously large amount.
But two people in Greater Manchester have each been handed £10,000 fixed-penalty notices this week after officers shut down a wedding and a house party.
The Leicester city house party, which is illegal under coronavirus regulations, was broken up by police after neighbours reported loud music.
Officers can be seen entering the flat where more than 30 party-goers were crammed inside. As they start ejecting those in attendance, they discover more and more people hidden in various rooms around the property.
The footage shows one officer going into the bedroom and lifting up the mattress to talk to one person who is hiding under the bed.
The officer says: ‘Mate, you’re rumbled. You might as well come out. You must be warm under there? Come on then. Out you get. You’re sweating under there.’
The reveller replies: ‘I’m not sweating. I’m just sleeping.’
Others were found hiding in the bathroom and the footage shows an officer saying ‘Oh hello’ as several people leave together and sheepishly head for the exit.
The homeowner is then told by the officer: ‘I’d very much anticipate a fine coming your way on the basis of what we’ve seen this evening.’
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said that the force has issued around 515 FPNs since government restrictions were first imposed in March.
Of those incidents, eight people attracted the higher £10,000 fine for the offence of organising or facilitating a gathering under the Health Protection Regulations.
Those breaches took place as follows:
- At the Gate Hangs Well Public House in Syston, Leicester on September 25, after a group of around 300 people attended an event;
- A man and a woman were fined for holding a house party involving more than 30 people at an address in Colton St in Leicester on September 27;
- Church St, Leicester, a fine was issued to the organiser of a house party where more than 30 people were found to be in attendance on September 28;
- At an address in Atkins St, Leicester a fine was issued to the organiser of a house party involving more than 30 people on October 11;
- The owner of a premises in Ashby Square in Loughborough was fined along with the event organiser after 150 people attended an event on October 13;
- The owner of a premises in Granby St, Leicester was fined following a music event (officers linked this incident to the event in Ashby Square) on October 13.
Body-cam footage released today shows Leicestershire Police officers raiding a party on Atkins Street and finding revellers hiding in the bathroom and under the bed
The gathering, which is illegal under coronavirus regulations, was broken up by police after neighbours reported loud music
The value of the fine is dependent on a number of factors including when the fine is paid and the number of offences committed, but can be up to £10,000.
Today, Assistant Chief Constable Smith said: ‘I really want to thank all of the people in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland who have followed the rules throughout, often in challenging circumstances, to prevent the spread of the virus.
‘It is clear to me that the majority take personal responsibility for themselves and their families, understanding that we are all in this together and it is up to us to keep ourselves safe.
‘However, the small minority are making poor choices and putting others at risk from this disease.
‘Often, my officers are dealing with parties or gatherings, arranged by people who believe themselves to be above the law and prepared to risk spreading the virus to others. This cannot happen.
‘Without your co-operation we cannot contain the disease and although our approach has always been to engage, explain and encourage people, we are now in a position where we must use enforcement against people who take these risks.
‘I cannot stress enough that anyone could face a 10k fine from police for breaking the rules. We all want to get life back to normal.
‘However, we have to accept that isn’t going to happen right now and those who are breaking the rules are prolonging the agony of others, their actions having an impact on local businesses, the NHS and people’s lives.
‘I urge people to remain sensible this evening and respect the efforts being made by the many to protect each other.’
Two people in Greater Manchester were both fined £10,000 this week for flouting Covid-19 shutdown restrictions.
Last night, police were called to a report of a wedding attended by 200 people at a warehouse in Salford, which had catering, musicians, a MC and sound equipment. Screens had also been put up in an attempt to prevent the event being seen from outside.
Following the dispersal of the wedding, a man, believed to be the organiser, was issued with a £10,000 fine.
On Monday, GMP officers dispersed a group of around 40 people at an address on Morris Green Lane, Bolton. Following the dispersal of this party, a woman, believed to be the organiser, was issued with a £10,000 fine.
Superintendent Andrew Sidebotham, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘It’s disappointing to see such blatant flouting of the rules when so many of us are making our own personal sacrifices in order to protect our community and keep others safe in the midst of this pandemic.
‘At both parties there were a large number of both children and adults present with no social distancing in place, which not only puts those attending at risk but also anyone in the wider public who may come into contact with any of these people.
‘Not only do blatant breaches of this kind put people at risk from a health perspective, but they put pressure on our already stretched policing resources taking them away from people who may be in urgent need of help.
‘I would like to warn anyone who is thinking of disregarding the rules that GMP will be working alongside our partner agencies to ensure we keep our communities safe, and anyone caught flouting the legislation risks not only receiving the maximum penalty of a £10,000 fine, but also the potential of prosecution for their reckless actions.
‘I know that the majority of people are abiding by the rules and I would like to thank you for the personal sacrifices you are making in your efforts in helping to keep the people of Greater Manchester safe, but those who aren’t should expect to face the necessary enforcement, especially when it’s on the scale as seen here in Salford and Bolton.’
Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, Salford City Council said he was shocked and disgusted at such irresponsible behaviour.
‘I welcome the actions of the police and we wholeheartedly support them,’ he said.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: ‘Holding a gathering of this size during a pandemic shows a level of reckless selfishness that is almost beyond comprehension.
‘On behalf of the majority of Bolton residents who have followed the rules and made sacrifices to keep others safe, I am utterly appalled by this behaviour.
‘As we enter new national restrictions, this £10,000 fine sends a clear message that any flouting of the rules simply will not be tolerated in Bolton.’
It comes as five northern police chiefs yesterday promised to crack down on the ‘minority’ who flout Covid rules and put ‘lives at risk’.
Chief constables Darren Martland of Cheshire, Michelle Skeer of Cumbria, Ian Hopkins pf Greater Manchester, Andy Rhodes of Lancashire and Andy Cooke of Merseyside said they will take a ‘robust’ approach as a ‘minority seem incapable of following the rules’.
The areas they cover have been hit the harshest by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Boris Johnson has stressed in recent days that compliance with the Government’s Covid-19 rules will determine the effectiveness of the national shutdown.
Police chiefs including Darren Maitland of Cheshire (left) and Michelle Skeer of Cumbria (reight) say they have seen first-hand the ‘misery of the pandemic’ and won’t hesitate to issue fixed penalty notices for those caught flouting the new rules
While the police bosses including Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester (left) and Andy Cooke of Merseyside (Right) commended those who have followed the rules, they said they will target those who put ‘lives at risk’ by hosting parties
Covid figures have sky rocketed in the North West of Enghand including the area covered by Andy Rhodes, (pictured) Chief Constable Lancashire Constabulary
Merseyside and Greater Manchester have seen their coronavirus figures rocket over the past month.
There have been 226,023 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the North West of England since the start of the pandemic.
It has seen the highest number of Covid cases in the nation, reaching 416.1 per 100,000 people, in the last week.
While the police chiefs commended those who have followed the rules, they said they will target those who put ‘lives at risk’ by hosting parties.
They wrote: ‘As the Police Chiefs responsible for the North West we have seen first-hand the misery the pandemic has caused, but we have also seen great support from the majority of our communities.
‘We have tried to ensure we have maintained the principle of policing with consent, that sets apart policing in this country from other parts of the world.
‘Along with police forces nationally, we have taken a very measured approach to enforcement from the start of the pandemic, recognising the restrictions placed on all our lives were unprecedented.
‘We used the 4E’s model of Engage, Explain, Encourage and only as a last resort Enforce, in relation to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for breaching the Coronavirus legislation.
‘Sadly we have seen a minority right across the North West who seem incapable of demonstrating any civic responsibility and complying with the regulations.
‘We know from focus groups and regional insight work the majority of the public would wish to see the Police Service taking a consistent and robust approach to enforcement.
‘Since local restrictions have been necessary across large parts of the North West we have taken a firmer stance on enforcing the restrictions, moving more quickly to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for those deliberately flouting the law and putting lives at risk.
‘As we head into further significant restrictions from 00.01 on Thursday 5 November 2020 we wanted to give these collective messages.
‘To the majority of our communities who have tried so hard to comply with restrictions, please carry on.
‘We know how hard this is, but we need to maintain that shared purpose we had in the first lockdown to defeat the virus and, ultimately, save lives.
‘To the minority who feel the restrictions don’t apply to them be prepared to face the consequences of greater levels of enforcement.
‘We will collectively target those who flout the restrictions, particularly those organising large gatherings and music events, repeatedly holding parties or deliberately causing harm to our communities by not following the restrictions, such as self-isolating where necessary.
‘Where we have issued Fixed Penalty notices a significant proportion of recipients think they can ignore them.
‘We are therefore seeking support from Government and the Judiciary to consider how we bring these people to justice rapidly.
‘Let us all do everything we can to get through this most awful of times and prevent any further suffering across the North West.’
Meanwhile, the Home Secretary was forced to deny claims by David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, that police would break up Christmas gatherings.
Mr Jamieson had previously told The Telegraph that officers would investigate reports of rule-breaking over the upcoming holidays.
He said: ‘If we think there’s large groups of people gathering where they shouldn’t be, then police will have to intervene.
‘If, again, there’s flagrant breaking of the rules, then the police would have to enforce. It’s not the police’s job to stop people enjoying their Christmas. However, we are there to enforce the rules that the Government makes, and if the Government makes those rules, then the Government has to explain that to the public.’
Senior Tory MP David Jones later said: ‘All people want is a quiet, happy Christmas with their families. They’ve had a dreadful year, so let’s give them a break.’
And his thoughts were echoed by former party leader Iain Duncan Smith who said: ‘It’s time for the Government to stand down these jobsworth Christmas turkeys.’