Police are seen cracking down on commuters not wearing face masks

Police have been collaring passengers during early morning commutes after ministers vowed to crack down on compulsory face coverings.

Officers were today deployed to London‘s Underground stations where they were seen confronting travellers not wearing masks.

They hovered on platforms and carriages to catch passengers breaking the government’s emergency coronavirus law, which was brought in last month to prevent the spread of infection.

But despite the clear police presence, some passengers were still pictured riding the Tube without a covering in the capital this morning.

Pointing to figures showing a 14 per cent non-compliance rate, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps pledged to get tough on rule-breakers, who face a £100 fine.

Police have been collaring passengers during early morning commutes as they step up the crackdown on compulsory face coverings (London Bridge pictured)

Officers were today dispatched to London’s Underground stations where they were seen confronting travellers not wearing masks (London Bridge pictured)

At London Bridge station – used by thousands of commuters each day for its links into the City and Westminster – British Transport Police (BTP) officers were pulling up passengers for not wearing coverings

At London Bridge station – used by thousands of commuters each day for its links into the City and Westminster – British Transport Police (BTP) officers were pulling up passengers for not wearing coverings.

Several passengers seemingly without coverings were seen producing a mask when demanded, despite billboards and tannoys reminding people to wear them upon entering the station.

One man on the platform at London Bridge was seen fumbling in his pockets as two constables watched on. 

Last week, BTP confirmed that ‘fines have been issued’ to flouters, but did not specify how many or where they had been handed.

Flouting the the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020 legislation, ushered in on June 15, risks a £100 fine, halved to £50 if paid within 14 days.

They hovered on platforms and carriages to catch passengers breaking the government’s new emergency coronavirus law to prevent the spread of infection

Police on the Jubilee line this morning during early morning commutes

Several passengers seemingly without coverings were seen producing a mask when demanded, despite billboards and tannoys reminding people to wear them upon entering the station

Despite the clear police presence, some passengers were still pictured riding the Tube without a covering in the capital this morning

Last week, BTP confirmed that ‘fines have been issued’ to flouters, but did not specify how many or where they had been handed

The new laws have not been drilled in to all passengers, with many still travelling without a mask

During the peak of the pandemic, the UK parted ways with most of the world in not recommending face masks owing to ‘weak’ scientific evidence. 

But in an about-turn, ministers last month made wearing a face covering on public transport compulsory because of studies finding they may reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Yet the new laws have not been drilled in to all passengers, with many still travelling without a mask.

Last week, Mr Shapps said enforcement had been ‘gentle’ to start with but would be ‘tightened’ – after complaints that travellers are regularly flouting the rule. 

Speaking in the Commons, he said: ‘We’ve seen very high levels of compliance on face coverings.

‘It looks like, according to the Office of National Statistics, on the week of June 26 that 86 per cent compliance was in existence.

‘We did say in the early days that we would ensure compliance was gently enforced but I do want to inform the House that TfL (Transport for London), Network Rail, British Transport Police will be tightening up on that implementation.’     

Two constables deployed at London Bridge station this morning 

A fairly busy Tube in London this morning, wear the majority of passengers wear a face covering

The majority of passengers comply with the law and wear a mask

A woman rides the Jubilee line this morning without a face covering