Coronavirus: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 guidance outlines the key provisions of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) Regulations 2020, which required the public to wear face coverings in relevant places in England since July 2020. It includes essential details regarding exemptions, enforcement, offences and penalties associated with non-compliance. The guidance is intended to assist prosecutors in understanding the regulations and their amendments.
Key points
- Individuals must wear face coverings in relevant places unless exempt.
- Failure to wear a face covering without a reasonable excuse is an offence.
- Enforcement can include denial of entry or removal by the police.
- Summary offences carry unlimited fines.
- Fixed penalty notices can be issued for violations.
- Prosecutors should assess public interest before charging.
Public-interest factors
- Seriousness of public health impacts
- Potential for illness and death from Covid-19
- Nature of the offence related to public safety
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.