JJ Anisiobi has called for Parliament to consider banning face coverings in public, arguing that hiding one's face should not be allowed in a civilised society. Writing in an opinion piece, he says that while not everyone wearing a balaclava plans to commit a crime, criminals benefit from anonymity, and the deliberate concealment of faces makes public spaces feel more hostile.
Why balaclavas in a heatwave?
Anisiobi notes that groups of young men in black tracksuits and balaclavas are a common sight in town centres, even in 30-degree heat. He dismisses the idea that they are cold, suggesting instead that they do not want to be recognised. He points out that covering one's face is hardly a disadvantage when planning to nick a phone, rob a shop or threaten someone.
He admits that even he, at 6ft 2in and 18 stone, thinks twice when walking past masked lads loitering outside his local kebab shop. He asks readers to imagine how an elderly pensioner or a woman walking home alone might feel.
Past precedent and the real issue
Anisiobi recalls that in the early 2000s, shopping centres and schools clamped down on hoodies because they made anti-social behaviour harder to police. He acknowledges that some young people were stereotyped, but says it sent a clear message that hiding one's identity was not something society should encourage.
He argues that simply banning balaclavas would not work, as miscreants would switch to snoods or scarves. The issue, he says, is not the item of clothing but the deliberate concealment of someone's face. He also notes that humans are wired to read faces, and stripping away facial expressions makes public spaces feel less safe.
Applying the rule equally
The same principle, he writes, inevitably raises questions about other face coverings, including the burqa and niqab. While he respects that many regard those garments as an expression of faith, he argues that if the rule is that faces should be visible in shared public spaces, it must apply equally to everyone. The rule should be simple: if you're out in public, people should be able to see your face.
