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Woman thrown out of Sainsbury's for not wearing a mask.

564 replies

Viviennemary · 18/01/2021 10:01

When asked why she wasn't wearing one she told the police they were not allowed to challenge her or ask about her disability. (wrong apparently). She said she'd be taking them to court. Police have criticised ministers for giving conflicting advice. I think it's time this was cleared up. It's far too vague. So seems like people do need some proof of the reasons they can't wear a mask.

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FlibbertyGiblets · 18/01/2021 10:06

I haven't seen any news today yet.
Surely she would have been asked to leave, or escorted off? Not lobbed out by a Big Daddy or Giant Haystacks.

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bobbojobbo · 18/01/2021 10:09

She was a massive tit and deserved it.

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Jetatyeovilaerodrome · 18/01/2021 10:09

Link?

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Tiktokersmiracle · 18/01/2021 10:13

They did originally say under the disabilities act they do not have to show proof of disability and those who fail to treat a disability as a protected characteristic can be fined up to £9000. So from that respect she was correct.
Where the argument is vague is that shops and those who run them can revoke the right of service as they see fit.
Do we really want to block up GP surgeries with people getting rubber stamped letters of exemption?
Yes you do get Muppets saying they're exempt but I think they're more likely to be like Laurence Fox and buy an unofficial badge. There is no such thing as a recognised exemptions badge and frankly as the parent of a child who is exempt I would rather not get into a situation where I have to pay for an exemption.
I also think it should be remembered that some people will find it embarrassing to explain their exemption, such as those with anxiety after being attacked and a hand being over their mouth. That is where the system is shaky.

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Tiktokersmiracle · 18/01/2021 10:14

@FlibbertyGiblets

I haven't seen any news today yet.
Surely she would have been asked to leave, or escorted off? Not lobbed out by a Big Daddy or Giant Haystacks.

The video I saw the police officer was being quite rude and sarcastic. It didn't calm the situation at all but then that's the nature of some police in this country unfortunately.
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bendmeoverbackwards · 18/01/2021 10:17

Good, I hope more supermarkets follow suit. I’m sympathetic to those with genuine reasons but there are far more piss takers/anti mask brigade.

If you can’t wear a mask, avoid the shops. Ask someone to help you.

What I don’t understand is why anyone would feel comfortable shopping without a mask. They may have valid reasons for not wearing one but that doesn’t stop the virus being transmitted does it?

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Viviennemary · 18/01/2021 10:21

It's in MN favourite paper the DM. I've just watched the video. This needs to be cleared up once and for all. I can't do links on this tablet. But it's what people have been discussing for months. The right not to wear a mask and the right not to be questioned about it.

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Argh3456 · 18/01/2021 10:23

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9158827/Moment-police-eject-woman-Sainsburys-refuses-wear-mask.html

I think if she can't produce proof of why she's exempt then she shouldn't be allowed in. Everyone knows the rules now, even though some people still continue to wear their mask incorrectly (eg. Not covering their noses).

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Meredithgrey1 · 18/01/2021 10:26

I haven’t seen a video but in the article I read it said the woman had printed out the bit from the government website where it says that people don’t need to show proof, but that if they want to they can print something off, or even make something at home which says they are exempt. The police officer reportedly said they didn’t want to see something the woman had just printed off at home.

I think this sort of thing does need clarifying, the woman had printed off the guidance, the guidance is a suggested way of complying with the law (you can break guidance but can still sometimes be within the law, but if you follow the guidance, this should ensure you are remaining within the law) and states a home made sign is something reasonable to show. I don’t think it’s unreasonable of someone to follow the guidance and think that they are therefore acting lawfully.

(I’ve written this making an assumption that the woman was acting in good faith and is genuinely exempt).

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Viviennemary · 18/01/2021 10:27

Thanks Argh.

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BPCoveredInSpots · 18/01/2021 10:28

You don’t need to buy an exemption card, you can download as many as you like for free on a gov.uk website.

Whilst not on the same level as blue badges, can you imagine the number of entitled pricks who would get themselves one if they could?

Mask exemption cards shouldn’t need the level of admin and evidence that blue badges require, but I do think having them free to download was highly flawed and bound to be abused, to the detriment of those in genuine need.

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Meredithgrey1 · 18/01/2021 10:29

@Meredithgrey1

I haven’t seen a video but in the article I read it said the woman had printed out the bit from the government website where it says that people don’t need to show proof, but that if they want to they can print something off, or even make something at home which says they are exempt. The police officer reportedly said they didn’t want to see something the woman had just printed off at home.

I think this sort of thing does need clarifying, the woman had printed off the guidance, the guidance is a suggested way of complying with the law (you can break guidance but can still sometimes be within the law, but if you follow the guidance, this should ensure you are remaining within the law) and states a home made sign is something reasonable to show. I don’t think it’s unreasonable of someone to follow the guidance and think that they are therefore acting lawfully.

(I’ve written this making an assumption that the woman was acting in good faith and is genuinely exempt).

I’ve just seen the DM article which calls the woman a self proclaimed anti-masker which obviously changes situation from my assumption.
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movingonup20 · 18/01/2021 10:31

Sounds like the woman was being for want of a better expression, mouthy. She didn't have a disability apparently, just anti mask

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bendmeoverbackwards · 18/01/2021 10:31

But even if you are genuinely exempt, why would you be willing putting others at risk?

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JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 18/01/2021 10:33

I am so fucking sick of this

Little Stasi wannabes picking on women (it's always women) and people backing them up!!

She's right - she has NO obligation to share her information. I thought she behaved brilliantly. She was calm, she knew her rights, and the prick police officers refused to even look at the law she was presenting them (doesn't surprise me as they seem to like to make it up). I hope she does sue them.

The sad thing is there was probably a battered wife or a mugging victim who didn't get an audience with police after their attack because they're too busy implementing 1984 in Sainsbury's. Awful. I'm genuinely terrified with the way the world is going.

And shame on those of you who think this is OK.

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WanderingMilly · 18/01/2021 10:33

If you are genuinely exempt from wearing a mask, then don't go into shops where lots of other people are. Get someone to do your shopping for you or use home delivery or whatever. Just because you're exempt from mask wearing doesn't mean you won't spread COVID, have some thought for others.

For those who just don't want to wear a mask, I have no patience with you and your 'rights'. Why do your rights take priority over everyone else's to be safe? Go and exercise your right down a country lane where there's nobody around and you can walk around with no mask without causing danger. Don't parade it in shops where you are compromising the safety of others. And great that the shop will take issue and throw you out...

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JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 18/01/2021 10:34

@Argh3456

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9158827/Moment-police-eject-woman-Sainsburys-refuses-wear-mask.html

I think if she can't produce proof of why she's exempt then she shouldn't be allowed in. Everyone knows the rules now, even though some people still continue to wear their mask incorrectly (eg. Not covering their noses).

There's no rule to say you have to prove your disability. Some people have PTSD due to rape or violence - why should they have to share that with a stranger?
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AwaAnBileYerHeid · 18/01/2021 10:34

Good, she was a massive twat. She sounded like the sort that just wants to screech about her 'rights' and screw everyone else. Good on the police officers. I have the right to not get sick because of idiots like this and I thank the police and sainsbury's for standing up for me.

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Worldgonecrazy · 18/01/2021 10:35

Police did this locally and had to issue an apology a day later. The woman was correct.

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JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 18/01/2021 10:35

Where the argument is vague is that shops and those who run them can revoke the right of service as they see fit.

Not on the basis of discrimination they can't.

They can no sooner say "no service because you're disabled" than they can say "no service because you're black"

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AwaAnBileYerHeid · 18/01/2021 10:36

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

I am so fucking sick of this

Little Stasi wannabes picking on women (it's always women) and people backing them up!!

She's right - she has NO obligation to share her information. I thought she behaved brilliantly. She was calm, she knew her rights, and the prick police officers refused to even look at the law she was presenting them (doesn't surprise me as they seem to like to make it up). I hope she does sue them.

The sad thing is there was probably a battered wife or a mugging victim who didn't get an audience with police after their attack because they're too busy implementing 1984 in Sainsbury's. Awful. I'm genuinely terrified with the way the world is going.

And shame on those of you who think this is OK.

Ok anti-masker 👍
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DamnShesaSexyChick · 18/01/2021 10:38

Even if she is correct and doesn’t have to tell them the nature of her disability it’s not relevant, she still can’t be in the shop with no face covering.

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LaBellina · 18/01/2021 10:39

I do wear a mask and have no issues but a very good friend of mine genuinely can't wear one because of health issues.
I can see both sides here. It surely is frustrating that some people take the piss and claim they can't wear a mask just because they don't like it but people like my friend are also entitled to their privacy. I wouldn't be happy in her shoes to share my private medical information with a random stranger who isn't a HCP taking care of me.

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JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 18/01/2021 10:40

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RedMarauder · 18/01/2021 10:40

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

Where the argument is vague is that shops and those who run them can revoke the right of service as they see fit.

Not on the basis of discrimination they can't.

They can no sooner say "no service because you're disabled" than they can say "no service because you're black"

Sainsburys, as the owner of the private property, can just ban her from her stores without giving a good reason.

Stores ban people who they think are shop lifters all the time. It doesn't matter whether they have stolen anything or not.
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