Nottingham is implementing new restrictions targeting the wearing of balaclavas and similar face coverings by young people in the city center, aimed at deterring intimidation and criminal activity. The Public Spaces Protection Order, which comes into effect Tuesday, will allow police and council officers to demand the removal of face coverings when individuals are concealing their identity to commit offenses or engage in anti-social behavior. Penalties include £70 on-the-spot fines, confiscation of the headwear, and mandatory participation in an Immediate Justice Programme involving community work.
These measures are part of a broader initiative to enhance safety in Nottingham, a city recently ranked as the seventh most unsafe in the country. Between June 2025 and June 2026, Nottinghamshire Police recorded over 180 incidents in the city center involving face coverings. The enforcement action follows a July 2024 incident where two teenagers, aged 13 and 19, wearing balaclavas, murdered a 24-year-old man. The youths received sentences of four and a half years and 14 years, respectively.
Those who disregard the new order could face Criminal Behaviour Orders, potentially resulting in indefinite bans from the city center. Authorities have emphasized that the ban is not a blanket prohibition on face coverings but is specifically aimed at instances related to crime, anti-social conduct, or intimidating behavior. Exemptions are in place for religious, health, medical, or work-related reasons.
Superintendent Chris Pearson of Nottinghamshire Police stated that individuals suspected of involvement in crime or anti-social behavior while wearing face coverings will be stopped and required to remove them. He stressed the goal is to disrupt criminality and address the concerns of residents and businesses who have expressed frustration with such behavior. Nottingham City Council consulted over 2,200 individuals on the proposed restrictions, with more than 90 percent supporting action.
Public opinion on the ban is divided. Some residents, like 70-year-old Steve Wheldon, support the restrictions, citing concerns about anonymity and potential suspicious activity. Others, such as 44-year-old Dan Hall, a human resources worker, noted that delivery drivers often wear face coverings, raising issues of recognition and safety for pedestrians. Gary Miller, a builder, believes the trend of wearing balaclavas has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, making individuals feel "invincible."
However, some express reservations. Retired accountant Jonathan Cooper, 77, suggested a trial ban, believing it could reduce shoplifting. Photographer Mark Matthews, 57, questioned the enforceability of a ban, raising concerns about potential issues for elderly individuals in cold weather or homeless people. He suggested focusing on the root causes of street crime instead. Student Ester Lind, 20, called the ban a "terrible idea," arguing that individuals should be free to wear what they choose as long as they are not causing harm, and viewing the measure as government overreach.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden expressed satisfaction that the new powers will help remove "the veil of anonymity" and that offenders will be subject to immediate justice programs to "swiftly and very visibly pay back the community they have harmed."