Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This prosecution guidance outlines the legal requirements for wearing face coverings on public transport in England under the Health Protection Regulations established during the coronavirus pandemic. It details the offences, penalties, and exemptions related to these regulations, alongside enforcement practices. Additionally, it provides insights into amendments made to the original regulations as well as considerations for prosecutors regarding public interest in enforcing these regulations.
Key points
- Members of the public are required to wear face coverings on public transport.
- There are defined exemptions for individuals who cannot wear face coverings.
- Enforcement actions can include refusal to board or disembark from vehicles.
- Penalties for non-compliance can include fixed penalty notices up to £6,400.
- Prosecutors must consider public interest when charging for breaches of the regulations.
Public-interest factors
- The need to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
- Potential serious health risks associated with non-compliance.
- The community's overall health and safety consideration.
- Past non-compliance and repeat offenders.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.