North Tyneside residents have spoken in favour of the council's proposals to ban "intimidating" face coverings as part of efforts to crack down on masked youths on e-bikes terrorising the streets. The move follows concerns that streets are being blighted by yobs riding e-scooters and e-bikes "dangerously".
Proposed PSPO and its scope
Last month, the council's Labour administration said it was looking towards bringing forward a consultation which could see a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) introduced, either throughout North Tyneside or in specific locations. This would allow an authorised officer to require someone to remove a face covering if they reasonably believed it was being used to conceal their identity for the purpose of committing crime or anti-social behaviour, or causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.
It would not be a blanket ban on face coverings, and the restriction would not apply to masks worn for legitimate reasons - including religious, cultural, health, work, weather or personal safety reasons. The move was sparked by a Tory group motion calling on the council to review evidence of face coverings being used by e-bikers in New York, Murton, and Tynemouth.
Residents' views on the ban
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to people in North Shields about their experiences with e-bikes, and whether they backed the possibility of the authorities being granted extra powers to clamp down on masks and balaclavas. Catherine Byrne, visiting from South Tyneside, said: "I think so, I think they are intimidating, you don't know who's behind them. And if people are protesting lawfully, why do they need a mask?"
Catherine continued: "I have seen them in South Tyneside on their e-bikes, and they are all in balaclavas, and they are just zooming around the town, it's not right, it should be clamped down on. I think it should be a country-wide thing."
Agreeing, Elizabeth Forster, also visiting from South Tyneside, added: "They fly past on the bikes when you're walking along. If there's someone who is not good with their balance, they could knock them. Especially the lads in Harton Village, I have had them come up and fly through traffic lights, and they take no notice."
Incidents and wider context
Over the last 12 months, 654 incidents of motorcycle-related crime and anti-social behaviour have been recorded throughout North Tyneside, including Killingworth, North Shields, Wallsend, and Whitley Bay. Earlier reporting by the LDRS found the wards of Percy Main and Chirton, and North Shields, were first and second in terms of the number of noise complaints generated. When the service spoke to Tyneside residents about the noise, many linked it to the use of either motorbikes or e-scooters.
Former electrician and school worker Stephen Carr, a recent arrival to North Shields, said: "As soon as I see something with a mask, you know they are up to no good, and they are riding dangerously." On the wider issue of youth disorder, Stephen continued: "We have got to give them something to do, I fully agree with Andy Burnham saying they want to change the curriculum, but by 2029? That's too far away."
Also agreeing on a face-covering ban, Frank Aski said: "I don't get intimidated, but the image is intimidating as an older person. Also, I'm deaf in one ear, so if one of them is coming up behind me, I can't hear them until it is too late." Judith Aski added: "I think all face coverings should be banned, it's either for everyone or no one."
