Asda stores are experiencing long queues during the coronavirus crisis. Picture: Cash Boyle
- Credit: Archant
Some supermarkets are still not dealing with overcrowding issues, a joint operation between Newham Council and police has revealed.
The two-week investigation also found that there were some stores where members of staff and customers were not wearing face masks.
Environmental health, trading standards and licensing officers from the council visited every supermarket, including metro stores and independents, in the borough.
Checking up on more than 80 shops, council officers were also joined by Metropolitan Police officers, who focussed on whether people were wearing face masks.
Essence Shisha Bar was forced to close
- Credit: Archant
A Plaistow shisha bar, which repeatedly refused to close during lockdown, has been forced to shut, Newham Council has said.
Essence Shisha Lounge in Barking Road was given a full closure order this week.
Police and Newham Council Covid marshals visited the bar several times during the third national lockdown and said they found it open, despite not being classed as an essential business.
Superintendent Ian Brown said staff and customers had also been “flouting the law” by not wearing face masks or social distancing.
Previous financial penalties imposed last year on the business “were ignored by both the owner and the operator”, the council said.