Northamptonshire businesses who flaunt Covid-19 compliance could be stopped from trading

Businesses in Northamptonshire that fail to take steps to protect customers from Covid-19 could have their ability to trade "limited, reduced or completely ceased," the county council has warned.

At a county council-led press conference today (August 7), businesses in Northamptonshire were warned that local authorities "would not allow" businesses to trade in unsafe circumstances.

It means that businesses like restaurants or pubs that fail to show they are taking down customers' details for track-and-trace, are lax on disinfecting surfaces or do not take care with social distancing will be scrutinised.

Director of Public Health Lucy Wightman said during the conference: "We will not allow businesses to trade in unsafe circumstances.

"If we do not see compliance we will take steps to limit, reduce or completely cease their trading."

Mrs Wightman said the council's neighbourhood wardens will be routinely visiting businesses during peak times on patrols, and will also use environmental health teams and local intelligence.

Businesses who are compliant will first be met with engagement and advice, while repeatedly poor standards could face formal warnings before escalating to action by licensing officers to stop them from trading.

Northampton Borough Council leader Jonathan Nunn supported the warning and said: "It’s a challenge for some smaller businesses to challenge customers for this information. But our message must be clear that if you go into an establishment and they do not offer you the opportunity to leave your track and trace details then that business does not have your safety at heart.

"I would compare it to how changes had to be made so it was mandatory to wear seatbelts and not drink-and-drive. I hope social pressure will be more of an answer to this than enforcement, when people start to feel they are not being looked after.

"I would ask that you insist they take your details when you walk into any organisation, and if you do not I would suggest that means you do not have the care for your own health, your family's health or your community's health."