Police plans in place for customers who abuse Meadowhall staff over social distancing rules

Stores at the shopping centre reopened this week when lockdown measures were eased in a bid to boost the economy and protect jobs.

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Special measures have been introduced to help keep staff and customers safe, including hand sanitiser stations at entrances, a ‘keep left’ system throughout the centre and a green and red traffic light system to tell people when a shop is at capacity.

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One Meadowhall worker tweeted that staff have faced abuse since shoppers returned, including being coughed on and sworn at.

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South Yorkshire Police said such issues have not yet been reported to officers working at the centre but plans are in place should problems arise.

The force said: “The team have and are working extremely closely with Meadowhall and have plans in place should this happen.”

Shoppers have returned to Meadowhall after the three month coronavirus closure but on the first day that non essential shops reopened the centre was not as busy as many had expected.

Queues did form outside shops in Sheffield city centre though, with Primark, Sports Direct and H&M among the stores which proved popular with shoppers.