Nottingham balaclava ban deters offenders without issuing fines

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

Nottingham's month-old ban on face coverings has deterred people from wearing balaclavas, with no fines issued yet.

Nottingham became one of the first UK cities to introduce a balaclava ban on 15 September. The new powers allow police and council officers to ask people to remove face coverings if they reasonably believe the items are being used to commit crime or anti-social behaviour. Those refusing to comply face a £70 on-the-spot fine, with repeat offenders potentially facing prosecution.

In the ban's first month, police stopped two people wearing face coverings. One removed the item immediately; the other was handed a dispersal order to leave the area for up to 48 hours due to argumentative behaviour. No fines have been issued.

City commander Supt Chris Pearson said the lack of fines showed the ban was working as a deterrent. Police and council officers patrol the city centre daily and have observed fewer balaclavas being worn since the ban came into force, as well as fewer reports from the public. More than 40 young people are now on a police watchlist, including eight who are currently banned from the city centre under strict bail conditions that prohibit wearing balaclavas.

How it is being reported

• No balaclava ban fines handed out in Nottingham - but dozens on police 'watchlist'One month into the ban, the force says people are not wearing face coverings 'due to the fear' of a £70 fineNottinghamshire Live · 16 Oct, 14:33
• No fines handed out in first month of balaclava banPolice say fewer people are wearing face coverings in Nottingham because of the threat of fines.BBC Nottingham · 16 Oct, 06:02

In this story: Nottingham · Nottinghamshire Police · Chris Pearson

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