A balaclava ban has been introduced in Nottingham from today in a bid to tackle intimidation and anti-social behaviour. The prohibition, taking effect on Tuesday, September 15, grants police additional powers to issue on-the-spot fines to members of the public.
New police powers and fines
Police will have new powers to issue on-the-spot fines to those using face coverings to commit crime or behave anti-socially. Repeated violations could result in indefinite bans from the city centre, while criminal behaviour orders may be imposed on those who persistently ignore the balaclava restrictions.
The measures enable police and council officers to demand individuals remove face coverings where their identity is being hidden to facilitate criminal activity or anti-social conduct, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed.
Council leader's statement
"We have listened to people across Nottingham who have told us that they can feel intimidated when they see individuals wearing balaclavas, skeleton masks or other face coverings without a legitimate reason in our city centre," Neghat Khan, leader of Nottingham City Council, said last week.
"Our residents should be able to live, work and spend time in Nottingham without feeling frightened or unsafe. That is why we are taking decisive action and becoming one of the first cities in the country to introduce a restriction of this kind."
Public support and evidence
A public consultation conducted by the authority attracted responses from over 2,200 individuals, with more than 90% backing measures to address the problem. Evidence compiled by Nottinghamshire Police revealed more than 180 city centre incidents involving face coverings or balaclavas between June 2025 and June 2026.
The measure does not constitute a blanket prohibition on face coverings; rather, officers are reportedly focusing on "crime, anti-social behaviour or intimidating conduct". Exemptions remain in place for individuals who wear face coverings for legitimate purposes, including religious, health, medical or occupational requirements.
Broader context
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for full face coverings, including those worn for religious reasons, to be outlawed in public spaces, following gatherings of masked anti-illegal migrant protesters in Dover earlier this month.
In 2024, Wolverhampton City Council introduced regulations governing face coverings, also under a public spaces protection order, aimed at combating anti-social behaviour in the city centre. The order grants West Midlands Police the authority to request individuals remove face coverings if they have no reasonable grounds to wear them and are using them deliberately to conceal their identity.
