Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police have issued a joint warning to shops and supermarkets in Sandwell.

The letter has been sent to all large shops and supermarkets to urge managers to ensure customers and their staff are kept safe by urging them to ensure face coverings are worn, encourage customers to use hand sanitiser as they enter and limit the number of customers allowed in stores.
 
The letter, signed by both Lisa McNally, director of public health for Sandwell Council and Ian Green, Chief Superintendent at West Midlands Police, also asks shop managers to reduce congestion and contact between customers such as queue management and one-way systems as well as other measures to ensure social distancing is possible for both staff and customers. Lisa McNally, director of public health for Sandwell Council, said:

"In recent weeks, we have started to receive more reports from shoppers about breaches of Covid Regulations and Guidance within stores being ignored. This is both concerning and alarming.
 
"We need supermarkets to work with us to ensure the safety of both customers and staff so have issued this open letter to let managers know we will do all we can to make shopping safer for our residents.
 
“Sandwell currently has very high rates of coronavirus.  Supermarkets are places where we are likely to come into contact with others and therefore present a risk for infection.  As customers we need to take care, staying at least 2 metres away from others and wearing face coverings
 
The letter details the action Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police may take if shops fail to make shopping safer in Sandwell. You can read it by clicking here.
 
Customers can report their concerns about shops in Sandwell by emailing phcovid19_enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk.