Enforcement of public transport face mask rules to be stepped up

Ministers are "ramping up" enforcement of the wearing of face coverings on trains and buses ahead of an expected decision to make them mandatory in shops.

Compliance with the transport rules has been good, with 91 percent of travellers wearing a covering on public transport between June 22 and 28.

But transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton told the House of Lords that inspectors on public transport will start to enforce the rules about wearing coverings.

A rule change from June 15 made wearing a face covering a condition of carriage, and Lady Vere said enforcing the rules was an "incredibly delicate balance".

She added: "At the moment, we are looking at engagement rather than enforcement, although we are ramping up enforcement because we feel that people have had time enough for this message to sink in."

Read more: Latest government advice on face masks

The peer said officials were particularly worried about young men forgetting to put on masks when on public transport.

She added: "Perhaps they are enjoying the new-found freedoms of the pub and, on leaving, find it all too easy to forget to put a face covering on. Perhaps the mantra for young men should be: 'Spectacles, face covering, wallet and watch' before leaving the house – we will have to see whether that catches on."

Anyone found not to be wearing a mask is at risk of paying a fixed penalty notice, although Lady Vere said children would be asked to leave a bus or train.

She added: "Children between the ages of 11 and 18 cannot be given a fixed penalty notice. I do not feel that that would be right. However, they can be asked to leave a service just as anyone else can be – that is how this will be enforced."

Lady Vere said she had bought her face coverings from a supplier over the internet adding: "They appear to be made of offcuts from ladies' underwear, but they cost very little and they do the trick."