Mansfield could introduce restrictions on balaclavas and other face coverings as part of a review of its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
The district council has confirmed it is already discussing the issue with police and town centre partners, following the introduction of similar restrictions in Nottingham in September.
On Friday 6 November, Mansfield MP Steve Yemm published a letter to Mansfield District Council’s elected mayor, Andy Abrahams, asking whether the authority would consider measures targeting face coverings associated with intimidation, crime and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Yemm said: “People should feel safe shopping, going to work and spending time in our town centres and neighbourhoods. Businesses and their staff should also be able to go about their work without fear of intimidation.
“Where people conceal their identities to threaten others or engage in anti-social behaviour, we should ensure that the council and police have effective powers to intervene.”
However, responding publicly online, Mayor Abrahams said the council had already been reviewing its PSPO for several weeks and had discussed the matter with Mr Yemm.
He said: “I already informed the MP at the CLP (Constituency Labour Party) meeting last Friday that we had been working on the review of the PSPO for several weeks.
“(This includes) our Community Safety team meeting with our police and town centre partners about the issue of balaclavas, e-bikes, anti-social behaviour, et cetera, so didn’t really need a letter publishing telling me something that I had already told him!?”
Mr Abrahams also accused the MP of seeking publicity and “talk our town down”, adding that a formal response would follow.
Nottingham introduced restrictions on face coverings in September as part of a wider PSPO, following proposals announced by city council leader Neghat Khan in June.
The order covers garments or materials worn to conceal or partially conceal someone’s identity for purposes including intimidation, harassment, crime or anti-social behaviour.
It includes balaclavas, scarves, snoods and masks, but exemptions apply for religious, health and work-related reasons.
People who refuse an authorised officer’s request to remove a face covering in circumstances covered by the order can face a fine.
By Joseph Connolly, Local Democracy Reporter
