A ban on face coverings in Nottingham city centre could be enforced in time for the next Winter Wonderland Christmas market.
Nottingham City Council has launched a consultation on possible new powers to ban face coverings.
It comes after a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) came into force at the end of July, which will help the authorities crack down on aggressive charity collections, noisy buskers, public urination, and unauthorised Big Issue salespeople.
However, during the consultation on these new powers, a significant number of responses called for a ban on face coverings.
Some of the concerns included people feeling intimidated and unsafe in the city, while other responses to the consultation revealed that people have been feeling on edge.
Concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour in the city peaked in November last year, when the city was awash with worry after two groups of youths brandishing machetes confronted one another in Old Market Square during the Winter Wonderland Christmas market.
Councillor Matt Shannon, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, waste and equalities, said that the face coverings ban would be enforced before the next Christmas market event if approved.
“I am confident it will be before the Winter Wonderland,” he said.
“I think we are currently looking at September. On a bad day, it ends up being October, but I think it’ll more likely be September, and definitely in time for Winter Wonderland.
“We want as many people to get involved as we can. Obviously, that gives us more confidence that we are doing what the people of Nottingham want us to do.”
The consultation will run until 14 August, Cllr Shannon said.
The Labour-led council says evidence has shown clear support for a ban, with “repeated incidents involving individuals wearing face coverings linked to anti-social behaviour, theft, public disorder and weapons-related incidents”.
There is further evidence from Nottinghamshire Police, with the force’s city centre-focused Operation Reclaim identifying face coverings “as a key factor contributing to fear of crime and reduced feelings of safety”.
It is considered that there is sufficient evidence to justify a targeted consultation on a proposed variation to the existing PSPO, which is now in place for the next three years.
If a ban is enforced, it will include, but not be limited to, balaclavas, scarves, snoods, masks, or other items used to cover the head and face.
However, it will exclude coverings worn for religious, health, and work reasons.
“We have certainly seen that there is a lot of support,” Cllr Shannon added.
“It is something the police have been quite firm they would like to see, and it would be quite a useful tool for them.
“I can very much see how it will be helpful in stamping out anti-social behaviour. When it comes to things like graffiti and other lower-level offences, people will suddenly be a lot less confident to do those things if their face is visible.
“The other thing is that, which we are talking to the police about with Operation Reclaim, we are targeting drug networks that are operating in and around the city, and again you will probably find that, if people do continue to wear these masks, it then gives [the police] a reason to stop them and then discover whether they are, for example, transporting drugs or the like.
The consultation closes at 11:59 on Friday 14 August 2026.
Have your say at: Management of Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Variation Order 2026
“It’ll help to continue changing the tone of the city centre. It is obviously an intimidating thing to see someone wearing a balaclava and committing anti-social behaviour.”
Cllr Shannon said he believes there are sufficient resources in the city to enforce a ban, with the council having employed a number of new Community Protection Officers (CPOs), many of whom were cut under previous cost-saving measures.
“This power will be used by the police and our own Community Protection Officers (CPOs). We’re going to be spending the rest of the year hiring more CPOs, which will bolster the numbers there.
“The police have been incredibly keen to have this as well, and obviously, for them, it is not a separate job; it is another angle for their work.”
Following the consultation, all responses will be reviewed and considered by the council’s senior members.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
