Nottingham is trialling a ban on balaclavas in the city centre as part of a crackdown on masked youths on e-bikes and e-scooters. If the trial succeeds and a full ban is introduced, anyone caught wearing a balaclava in the city centre could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.
Consultation and proposals
A two-week consultation launched earlier this month proposes adding a face covering restriction to the city centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which came into effect on 27 July. Under the proposal, an authorised officer could require someone to remove a face covering if they reasonably believed it was being used to conceal identity for crime, anti-social behaviour, or to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.
The restriction would not be a blanket ban. Masks worn for legitimate reasons, including religious, cultural, health, work, weather or personal safety reasons, would be exempt.
Public concerns and police action
The consultation followed concerns raised during the council's recent PSPO process, which received more than 1,300 responses. Face coverings, masks and balaclavas were frequently mentioned, with respondents linking them to intimidation, fear and perceptions of anti-social or criminal behaviour.
In an update on Friday, 21 August, Nottinghamshire Police said officers have made 821 arrests since May, with a significant number of prolific offenders now behind bars. They have also issued 16 Criminal Behaviour Orders, including bans from the city centre, while 35 young people have been placed on an anti-social behaviour watchlist.
Police chief's view
Nottinghamshire Police's City Commander Superintendent Chris Pearson, speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, said banning balaclavas will make a "huge difference" to policing the city. "Sadly, over the last few months, we've seen a real increase in young people in particular, wearing face coverings such as balaclavas, as you say, purely to conceal their identity while they're involved in crime and antisocial behaviour in our city," he said. "Members of the public have told us they find that incredibly intimidating and that they feel unsafe in the city."
"So having the power to remove those face coverings, to take them away, and to take positive action against those individuals who are wearing them for that purpose will actually make a huge difference to us."
