Nottingham City Council has implemented a ban on face coverings in its city centre, empowering police and community protection officers to ask individuals to remove them if they are believed to be concealing their identity for criminal or anti-social purposes. Non-compliance can result in a £70 fine or prosecution.
Key Numbers
£70fixed penalty notice for non-compliance
£1,000maximum fine for prosecution
Who's Involved
Neghat Khan
leader of Nottingham City Council who stated residents felt intimidated
Matt Shannon
Labour councillor and executive member for community protection, neighbourhoods and equalities
Shayma Muhammadqboliyom
19-year-old who said she would feel safer with the ban
Jaden Dale
19-year-old student who welcomed the ban
Nigel Farage
Reform UK leader who called for a ban on full face coverings
↳ Why This Matters
The ban aims to improve public safety and deter crime by making it harder for individuals to conceal their identity, potentially impacting the behaviour of groups involved in anti-social activities and criminal networks within the city centre.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Individuals who refuse to remove a face covering when asked by police or community protection officers could face a £70 fixed penalty notice or prosecution, with courts able to impose a maximum fine of £1,000.
Yes, the ban does not apply to face coverings worn for legitimate reasons, including religious, cultural, health, work, weather, or personal safety.
It will be up to police and community protection officers to determine whether or not coverings are being worn legitimately.
How It Developed
A ban on face coverings in Nottingham city centre came into force.
Police and community protection officers can now ask people to remove coverings if they believe they are being used to conceal identity for crime or anti-social behaviour.
Refusal to comply with the ban can lead to a £70 fixed penalty notice or prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.