A store owner in Middlesbrough was left stunned after the customer, whom he asked to put on a mask inside his shop or else leave, went on to file a police complaint against him of “disability hate crime”, stated recent reports on Wednesday (19). The owner is now questioning what power does a store owner have if he dares to challenge someone for not covering up.
According to local reports, Kevin Brown, who manages The Original VG store in Middlesbrough, requested that the customer either put on a face covering or provide proof he was medically exempt. When the customer did neither, Brown asked him to leave.
About a month later after the incident, Brown was visited by two Cleveland Police officers at his shop over allegations he had "discriminated" against the man and been verbally abusive towards him, reports said.
"This guy came in without the mask on. I asked to put a face covering on, and he said I'm exempt. I said he needed to show proof or he wasn't coming in,” local outlet quoted Brown who has worked at the convenience store for 37 years.
Claiming the man had "no visible disability", Brown told how the man reacted saying he doen't need to show any ID, and that it is ‘against the law’ for me to ask and he said I was discriminating against him."
Since the man has opted not to take the matter to court, no action was taken though Brown is questioning what powers actually are available to business owners who dare to challenge someone for not covering up.
Brown reported to have enforced a "very strict" mask policy at his store which has posters plastered all over urging customers to cover up.
"I just can't get my head around what we are supposed to be doing in that situation.” he said, questioning why he feels he was made to feel like a suspect for “upholding a law”.
Meanwhile, prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday (19) announced the end of Covid-19 measures including mandatory face masks in England. The government's move, however, has been questioned by trade union Usdaw saying the government's "flip flopping" on face covering may trigger confusion and conflict.
