Key facts
- A ban on face coverings in Nottingham city centre has come into force.
- Police and community protection officers can ask individuals to remove coverings if they believe they are being used to conceal identity for criminal or anti-social purposes.
- Refusal to comply can result in a £70 fixed penalty notice or prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.
- The ban does not apply to face coverings worn for legitimate reasons such as religious, cultural, health, work, weather, or personal safety.
- Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan stated the ban aims to make residents feel safer and deter troublemakers.
A ban on face coverings in Nottingham city centre has officially come into force, empowering police and community protection officers to request the removal of items like balaclavas and skeleton masks if they are believed to be used to conceal identity for criminal or anti-social behaviour. Those who refuse to comply face a £70 fixed penalty notice or potential prosecution with fines up to £1,000. Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan stated the measure is intended to address residents' feelings of intimidation and enhance safety in the city. The enforcement will exempt face coverings worn for legitimate reasons, such as religious, cultural, health, work, weather, or personal safety, with officers determining the legitimacy of their use. The ban follows similar actions by Stafford Borough Council and calls from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for broader restrictions on face coverings.