Nottingham’s city police commander has backed proposals which could give officers greater powers to tackle the use of balaclavas in the city centre.
Nottingham City Council is consulting on an addition to the Public Spaces Protection Order which came into force on July 27.
The proposal would allow an authorised officer to require someone to remove a face covering where there were reasonable grounds to believe it was being used to conceal their identity while committing crime or anti-social behaviour, or causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.
It would not amount to a complete ban. Face coverings worn for legitimate religious, cultural, health, employment, weather or personal safety reasons would remain permitted.
Nottinghamshire Police said the proposed measure would support Operation Reclaim, the partnership initiative targeting problems in the city centre, including anti-social behaviour involving young people.
Evidence gathered by the police and council identified more than 180 city centre incidents involving face coverings or balaclavas between June 2025 and June 2026.
Around three-quarters of the incidents analysed occurred in Old Market Square, Clumber Street and the area surrounding the Victoria Centre.
Superintendent Chris Pearson, Nottingham’s city commander, said: “Young people are wearing balaclavas for one reason and one reason alone – to conceal their identity.
“There is absolutely no justified reason to be wearing balaclavas during the summer we’ve had.
“We know that a vast majority of those young people wearing balaclavas are involved in anti-social behaviour and other criminality, including drug dealing.
“We will not hesitate to confiscate their balaclavas if they are found to be involved in crime.”
Superintendent Pearson said police now had 29 young people on a watchlist of those considered to be causing the most harm in the city.
He added: “We will use all the powers at our disposal to make life as difficult as possible for them to enter the city centre and cause problems, including taking them home to their parents or guardians.
“We are fully supportive of the balaclava ban in Nottingham city centre, which will provide us with greater powers to deal with the issue.
“We want the public to visit and enjoy the city centre without a minority making them feel intimidated and uncomfortable, and we look forward to hearing the public’s thoughts as part of this council-run consultation.”
The two-week consultation was launched after face coverings, masks and balaclavas were frequently raised by respondents to the council’s earlier consultation on the wider city-centre PSPO, which attracted more than 1,300 responses.
The council is gathering views through an online survey, face-to-face engagement in the city centre and work with businesses and youth groups.
Responses will be considered by the council’s Executive Board before it decides whether to amend the PSPO. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Friday, August 14.
People can take part in the consultation online.
