Face mask law in England: are shop owners even enforcing it?

Today was the first day face coverings were made compulsory in shops across England, and customers without one could risk getting a £100 fine.

In an online poll asking Oxford Mail readers if they thought the new rule would make people more comfortable going into town, more than half said it would put people off.

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A total of 53 per cent of readers who responded said that making face coverings compulsory would put people off and 47 per cent said it would help.

In the city centre today, many people in shops were wearing a mask, but some shop owners were not enforcing the new rule and were hoping it becomes habit.

Paris Barghchi, manager at the Oxford Wine Company shop in Turl Street, said: “I had four customers, they have all worn masks and been well-behaved.”

She added: “I am here in the shop on my own, so in order to ensure that there is no confrontation I am just being super polite and just reminding people, I think it is so easy to forget.”

Some shop owners said it was hard to enforce the rule as some customers have disabilities like asthma and impaired vision and are exempt from wearing a mask.

Oxfam shop manager Simon Ewens said: “We have a sign at the front of the shop, we can’t enforce it, but most people are wearing them.”

Paul Birtles, owner of The Garden flower shop in The Covered Market, said some people would be put off from shopping now that face masks were compulsory.

He said: “Today there will be lots of situations where people will go into shops not wearing a mask and they genuinely will be unaware, but within a very short space of time it will become the norm.

“There will be some people who resist going shopping because they actually feel uncomfortable wearing a face mask, but the reality is you either decide not to go shopping or you come to terms with having to wear a face mask.”

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He added: “Even my wife would prefer not to wear a mask, but probably the desire to go shopping would overtake the thought of not having to wear a mask.”

Jenny Carter, co-owner of Wicked Chocolate in The Covered Market, said she hoped the face mask rule would encourage more shoppers to the city.

She said: "I think it is something perhaps we should have started a while ago.

"It is noticeable that it has been very quiet in the market and I am hoping it will bring confidence back.

"We know that there is a lot of people that are still a little bit nervous about coming into Oxford.

"I have seen other little towns are quite busy, but you come into Oxford and it is quiet and I think it is just that leap coming into a city centre.”