Kent retailer receives arson and death threats for denying mask refusers entry

By Liz Wells in Industry News 25th January 2021

Owner Ranjit Dhaliwal, owner of Bridgeway Stores in Bridge, near Canterbury, says his staff have been threatened, abused, and attacked by shoppers refusing to wear masks.

Dhaliwal told KentOnline that his employees have been sworn at and had stock thrown at them after refusing to serve people refusing to wear face-coverings and stick to social distancing rules. Staff also received arson threats and death threats, he added.

He estimates that since the first lockdown in March last year, there have been as many as 20 incidents inside the store, six of which have taken place in the past month.

Dhaliwal said: “People aren’t taking this seriously. I’ve got a dozen employees and I’m sure every one of them has been abused.”

The retailer, who has owned store for around 30 years, is being urged by family members to sell the store as they believe “it is not a safe time now”.

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