- New measures will come into force in Nottingham city centre next week under a Public Spaces Protection Order to target individuals using balaclavas and face coverings to engage in crime or anti-social behaviour.
- Police and council officers will have the authority to demand the removal and confiscation of face coverings, alongside issuing £70 on-the-spot fines and mandatory referrals to an Immediate Justice Programme involving community work.
- Individuals who repeatedly defy the restrictions could face Criminal Behaviour Orders, potentially resulting in an indefinite ban from Nottingham city centre.
- Officials stressed that the policy is not a blanket ban, with clear exemptions protecting those who wear face coverings for legitimate reasons, such as medical, health, work, or religious needs.
- The initiative follows police evidence of more than 180 face-covering incidents between June 2025 and June 2026, and received backing from over 90 per cent of 2,200 public consultation respondents.
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