Residents and visitors in Nottingham say they do not feel safe in the city centre and have welcomed a ban on face coverings – but questioned its execution.
Nottingham City Council launched a consultation on new powers to ban face coverings at the beginning of August, and a survey found more than 90 per cent of the 2,000 respondents agreed with the proposals.
It is an additional restriction under a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that came into force at the end of July.
The new face coverings ban came into force on Tuesday, September 15.
Under the additional rules, authorised officers have the power to require a person to remove a face covering where it is used to conceal their identity while committing, or being involved in, crime or anti-social behaviour, or where it is worn in a way that causes intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.
Anna Robinson, 22, and Anna Karafillides, 20, both said they “don’t really feel safe”.
Ms Robinson said: “I think the idea behind it is there and it will definitely help.
“But it has been put in place, and people are still walking around wearing them.
“The idea is there but it is not being executed. Everyone is acting like hooligans when they wear them; everyone thinks they are cool wearing them. You walk through Market Square and it is just like hooligans.”
Ms Karafillides added: “It’s the younger generation, and they are the ones making it feel unsafe. It is really sad that it’s the younger generation who are making people feel that way, which is insane.”
Tasha Curran, a student, said: “That is part and parcel of any city.
“I don’t think necessarily it will make the city safer, but it will make people feel safer. I don’t think it’ll do much for crime, but more for the communities feeling safer than anything else.”
Benjamin Heath, an aerospace student at the University of Nottingham, said: “I can imagine when there is a large group of people it would be a bit intimidating, being surrounded like that, but I haven’t had that happen to me.
“I guess it depends on the situation. If it seems they are putting people in danger with reckless driving and they could be held accountable, they should have to take off their balaclava because you can’t enforce that if they aren’t showing who they are.
“However, I do think balaclavas are quite useful in the wintertime. I do like a neck covering and it does get cold.”
Edward Litchmore, of St Ann’s, added: “The balaclava ban is very good because you have a lot of problems going on. When it is banned, you cannot wear it anymore, so if anything goes wrong, you can know who is who. So I really appreciate it.”
People who wear face coverings for religious, medical or any other legitimate reasons will be exempt.
If the coverings are not removed, the wearer could face a £70 on-the-spot fine.
Repeat or uncooperative offenders could face prosecution.
Cllr Neghat Khan, the leader of the council: “Some people are saying it needs to go further; some are saying they are happy we have put the restrictions in as well.
“It is not on everything. There are exemptions. But I think what is really important is if we are serious about taking action and we want people to feel safe, then we have to listen, and this is exactly what we have done.
“I think there are a lot of places across the country that are looking at what Nottingham is doing here, and I think a lot of councils will follow what is done here. But they always need one of them to take the lead.
“We are looking at more visibility in the city from the police, red jackets and community protection officers. So if they see somebody acting inappropriately, intimidation or anti-social behaviour, they will approach somebody, and if they have a face covering, they will obviously take action.
“There is no reason why any person visiting, living or studying here shouldn’t feel safe.”
Cllr Ethan Radford, the council’s deputy leader, said the rules could be rolled out further into the neighbourhoods should the problem be displaced elsewhere.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter