Morrisons sorry after staff threatened to call police on man without face mask

Supermarket Morrisons has come under fire after staff at one branch threatened to call police when a disabled customer refused to wear a sticker proving he was exempt from wearing a face mask.

Footage shared on social media showed the shopper arguing with a security guard over the fact he is not wearing a face-covering due to a medical exemption.

The company later apologised.

Another staff member says she is going to call police if the customer refuses to wear a yellow sticker, which is a new Morrisons policy to reassure other shoppers if someone is not wearing a mask.

Face masks are compulsory in supermarkets in England and Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic but shoppers with certain disabilities and physical or mental conditions are exempt.

Exemption cards or badges are available but are not required by law.

The security guard says: "It's new Morrisons policy we're rolling out that everyone has to wear a mask or (with) an exemption letter you wear a sticker.

"It's more to explain to other people in the store that you are exempt and that's why you haven't got a mask on."

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But the customer fired back: "I shouldn't need to explain to other people, I've got a medical exemption that should be enough.

"I shouldn't have to declare my medical exemption that's a Discrimination Act thing.

"If they ask me, I can tell them, I'm perfectly capable of communicating myself to them."

Morrisons has now apologised and said there is no policy requiring people exempt from wearing face masks to wear stickers.

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A spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that this is very much an isolated incident and not Morrisons policy.

"We're sorry the customer has had this experience, as our store marshals are well trained and understanding of those who are medically exempt."

She went on: "We're following government guidelines to keep our colleagues and customers safe. Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won’t be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt.

"We're also part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard scheme, so any customers with a hidden disability who would like a lanyard can get these in-store too. But customers aren't obliged to do so.

"This is so that colleagues and customers inside the store are aware that the customer is medically exempt."

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