MASK RAGE
Moment maskless Farmfoods shopper rows with cops after being ‘fined’ – despite her telling them she’s medically exempt
A supermarket shopper has reportedly been fined by police for not wearing a mask, despite her claims that she is exempt on health grounds.
Footage shows two police officers from the West Midlands Police handing the female Farmfoods customer a fixed penalty notice.
4
The officers claimed that the customer had ‘broken a guideline’, in one of the two West Midlands Farmfoods branches.
The policewoman in frame then explains she can take the fine to court and show her ''burden of proof'', even whilst the shopper claims she’s exempt from wearing a face covering.
Towards the end of the clip, the male police officer steps in and says: "What we’re going to do, we’re going to take this lady’s details."
The person filming the incident asks: "What for?" before the policeman urges him to listen to the other officer, who then goes onto say: "If we give you a fixed penalty notice, what it then does, you take it to court and you show your burden of proof then to the court."
The female customer says "I don't need to", before the policeman responds: 'Yes you do.'
Do you know the people involved? Contact The Sun Online at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502.
The policewoman counters that they "do not have to ask for proof of her exemption but they can ask what it is in a conversation".
The police officer responds: 'You showed me a card that you printed on the internet. That's not valid', to which the customer responds: "So?"
He responds: "Because you haven't got a certificate or a doctor's note, the onus is on yourself."
The customer says: "I can prove to you here that my son's girlfriend has ordered me a card, which I just said to you, I only texted the other day saying "has my card come yet?"
4
4
"I can prove to you here that she's put 'yes, it does take a few weeks, I think my mum's took a few weeks as well'.''
The person behind the camera questions whether she has broken the law, to which the policeman said that she had "broken a guideline".
At the end of the video, the customer can be heard saying: "I've done everything I can, really. At least I've done something to try."
The footage was posted on Facebook by a third party who captioned it with: ‘’So, this is how they are going to play it now!!
‘'Using fear to issue fines to non-mask wearers and then saying it’s down to you to dispute it & show an exemption if you have one!"
‘'Remember people, you don’t have to show any exemption OR give any of your details. You have not broken a law.'’
‘’Notice how he leaves it down to the young, inexperienced officer to talk the [emoji]!’’
Most read in News
West Widlands Police’s Twitter have commented saying: ‘’We are aware of a video circulating online from a supermarket in #Dudley. It's currently being reviewed and we will issue an update as soon as we can.’’
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The Sun Online has contacted West Midlands Police for comment.
FarmFoods declined to comment.
4
Face Coverings: Are you exempt?
In settings where face coverings are mandatory in England, there are some instances where you don't have to wear one:
- Children under the age of 11 do not have to wear coverings, Public Health England does not recommend that children under the age of 3 wear them for health and safety reasons
- People who cannot put on, wear or remove their face covering due to a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability
- If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering causes severe distress
- When speaking to someone who requires lip reading, clear sound of facial expressions to communicate
- In order to avoid harm or significant risk of harm or injury
- Police officers or other emergency workers do not have to wear a face covering if it interferes with their ability to serve the public
A full list of exemptions and rules regarding face coverings can be found on gov.uk
Topics