Written question WQ83818

It is a legal requirement for people to wear a face covering while traveling on public transport, unless they are exempt.

Transport for Wales (TfW) is actively reminding on-board staff to make regular announcements after each station stop and intermittently on longer journeys to remind passengers of the need to wear a face covering for the duration of their journey, unless they are exempt. Since the start of the pandemic, TfW has either prevented or removed more than 10,000 people from travelling on its trains for not wearing a face covering, currently averaging 100 preventions of travel per week through its security teams.

Despite the steps TfW is taking, including the media campaign prior to the Autumn Internationals, concerns have been raised about an increase in passengers not wearing face coverings on rail services. I have written to James Price, chief executive officer of TfW to ask him what additional steps can be taken. In addition, this letter was copied to the British Transport Police in Wales as ultimately it has the responsibility for enforcement of the law.

Bus drivers have a role in explaining what the requirements are for wearing face coverings. Bus drivers do not have an enforcement role. A bus driver may ask a passenger why they are not wearing a mask, but if the passenger claims they are exempt from the requirement the driver may not ask for proof. A passenger who is not exempt from wearing a mask may be refused access to a bus, if the passenger makes this clear, however it is for the police to enforce the law, not bus drivers.

The police can issue a fixed penalty for breaches of these requirements. A first offence is punishable by a penalty of £60 (which doubles for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £1,920). Repeat offenders could also be prosecuted in court where there is no limit to the fine that may be issued.

We provide the British Transport Police in Wales with revenue funding which contributes towards the costs of 21 PCSOs and a North Wales inspector for BTP Wales. In addition, a three-year pilot scheme providing a sergeant and five PCSOs across Rhyl, Machynlleth and Tenby is currently undergoing evaluation. Additional operational support is also provided under our Programme for Government commitments. This is a substantial Welsh Government contribution in a non-devolved area which makes a significant positive impact to the number of operational personnel in Wales reducing crime and making our railways safer for passengers