Transport Support Enforcement (TSE) officers were present at Liverpool Street station during rush hour on Wednesday to remind Londoners about the ongoing requirement to wear masks on TfL services. While the legal obligation to wear face coverings on public transport in England was lifted on July 19, it remains a condition of carriage for passengers using TfL services in London.

Since the legal requirement was removed, the police are no longer able to enforce mask-wearing, and individuals who refuse to wear a face covering cannot be fined or prosecuted. TfL’s director of compliance, police operations, and security, Siwan Hayward, acknowledged that compliance has been decreasing in London since the legal requirement was lifted.

A recent customer survey conducted between July 25 and August 21 revealed that 82% of passengers continue to wear face masks. However, TfL staff have observed that compliance levels are declining. TfL has approximately 500 employees responsible for enforcing mask-wearing on its services, including TSE officers, Operations Officers, and Revenue Control Inspectors.

Hayward emphasized that while enforcement officers are making significant efforts, they are not present everywhere all the time. TfL is actively reminding customers through announcements, media, and marketing that wearing a face covering on public transport is still mandatory.

Despite these efforts, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been advocating for the Government to reinstate a byelaw making face coverings a legal requirement in London. However, his efforts have not yet been successful. If such a byelaw is implemented, British Transport Police would regain the authority to issue fines to non-compliant passengers and prosecute those who do not pay the fine.

Previously, TfL prosecuted approximately 2,000 individuals for failing to wear face coverings when it was a legal requirement.