Mandatory Face Coverings for Transport Hubs

Our Ref: HSR/1/3
Head Office Circular: NP/184/20
23rd July 2020
To: The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS


Dear Colleague,

MANDATORY FACE COVERINGS FOR TRANSPORT HUBS

The Department for Transport (DfT) wrote to me yesterday evening following the Prime Minister’s announcement that face coverings will become mandatory in shops and retail outlets from tomorrow, Friday, 24th July.

These regulations will be extended to indoor parts of transport hubs in England. Passengers should wear face coverings at transport hubs (although some passengers are exempt). Guidance will be published by the DfT in due course. Overall, the message to passengers from tomorrow will be that they should wear a face covering when using the transport network.

The regulations are being finalised, but they are expected to be applicable for enclosed stations, ports, terminals and airports.

The same enforcement and employee/passenger exemption approach for transport hubs as for retail settings will be broadly adopted. While transport and hub operators will be expected to remind passengers of the law, and encourage adherence, including asking people to leave a transport hub if they are not wearing a face covering, it will be the Police/British Transport Police who have powers to enforce £100 Fixed Penalty Notices, or remove people from services.  

I will keep members informed of any developments.

Please make the contents of this Circular available to all appropriate members.

Yours Sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary