UNRULY shoppers have been abusing shop keepers when challenged over flouting Covid-19 laws, and police bosses say they will claim down on the difficult customers.

Some visitors at Lakeside Shopping Centre are hitting back at staff who step in to make people wear masks and break up large groups of people.

But a top police boss says it will not be tolerated.

Richard Melton, acting superintendent for West Essex said: “Generally people of Essex have been supportive of legislation, but we have a few people who are not complying.

“There has been some abuse to shop staff when people are challenged about these things and we won’t tolerate that and will support those shop keepers.

“It does put extra strain on policing and other elements of enforcing Covid-19 legislation. People must understand they are taking policing away from elsewhere.

“Those flouting the law tell us it’s been nine months and they’ve done what they need to do and it’s time to get back to normality.

“If people refuse to do the right thing we will hand out fines and if people repeatedly offend costs will go up.”

Centre bosses also say they’re tackling some issues.

Howard Oldstein, centre director, said: “With the rule of six we’ve been quite fortunate and not had large groups of people walking around the centre and where we do we do have security and personnel staff splitting them up where required.

“We come up against some difficult situations but we overcome them. I think some people are working against the Government rules and guidance which is quite sad and while we can only influence people to wear masks and stay in groups of six, we do come across difficult situations but we deal with them in a positive manner.”