Nottingham set to approve balaclava ban to tackle crime
Nottingham City Council plans to ban balaclavas and face coverings in public to curb antisocial behaviour, with fines for non-compliance.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Nottingham is moving closer to becoming the largest UK city to ban balaclavas in public, as part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour and crime. The city council has been consulting on new powers that would allow police to order people to remove face coverings if they are suspected of using them to hide their identity while committing offences. Those who refuse could face an on-the-spot fine of £70, though some proposals have mentioned a maximum penalty of £1,000.
The move follows widespread concern from residents and businesses. A consultation found that over half of respondents felt unsafe in the city centre, citing gangs of masked youths, aggressive begging, and rising shoplifting. Council leaders insist the public wants action. "They feel intimidated by individuals and gangs in our city centre wearing face coverings such as balaclavas, skeleton masks," said the council leader, adding that there is "no good reason to be wearing a balaclava in a city centre in the middle of the summer."
Businesses have reported daily intimidation. One salon manager said staff were scared to work late shifts because of fights outside and the anonymity of those involved. A restaurant owner described repeated vandalism, saying he had spent £1,000 repairing his door and expected to spend another £1,500. "They come and smash things all the time," he said.
Nottinghamshire Police have stressed that exemptions will apply. Face coverings worn for work, health, or religious reasons will not be targeted. The force said officers would be expected to establish why someone is wearing a covering before taking any action. "We understand that face coverings will always be worn for work-related issues, for health and of course for religious reasons as well," said a senior officer.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from the public. Some support the ban, describing masks as "scary" and "not needed." Others argue it is "over the top" and that education would be more effective than fines. "People who wear them need to be educated so that they know what signals that's sending out to people," one resident said.
Nottingham is looking at a similar scheme in Wolverhampton, which introduced powers to remove face coverings in 2024 and reported a 16% reduction in recorded crime in the city centre. The plans in Nottingham are due for further consultation and could be approved in September, with the ban potentially in force by the end of the year.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| The proposed ban would allow police to order removal of face coverings used for crime or antisocial behaviour, with fines up to £1,000. | ||
| Criminals are increasingly concealing their identities, making it difficult for police to catch them. | · | |
| Nottingham could become the largest UK city to ban balaclavas. | · | |
| Over half of people consulted felt Nottingham city centre was unsafe. | · | |
| Similar powers in Wolverhampton have been reported to reduce city centre crime by 16%. | · | |
| The law could come into force by the end of the year. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This report focuses on the everyday reality of masked crime in Nottingham, using vivid imagery and a salon manager's testimony to highlight the fear felt by workers. It also gives prominence to the Wolverhampton precedent and a higher maximum fine of £1,000.
- “Covered up and looking for trouble.”
- “How common is this in Nottingham? Every single day. Every single day.”
- “Wolverhampton has been using similar powers to remove face coverings since 2024. They say it's helped reduce recorded crime in the city center by 16%.”
This segment concentrates on the consultation process and public support for the ban, with a clear explanation of how the powers would work, including the £70 on-the-spot fine and the timeline for approval.
- “The public were very clear with us that they don't feel safe, they feel intimidated by individuals and gangs in our city centre wearing face coverings such as balaclavas, skeleton masks.”
- “If people refuse to remove that balaclavas or face covering, they face an on-the-spot fine of £70.”
This report offers a fuller picture, including footage of police dealing with masked suspects, a restaurant owner's account of damage, and balanced public opinion on whether the ban is justified. It also stresses police safeguards for legitimate face coverings.
- “They come and smash things all the time. They smash my door, I spend £1,000 to change the door. I will spend probably another £1,500 for the downstairs door.”
- “We understand that face coverings will always be worn for work-related issues, for health and of course for religious reasons as well.”
- “I think they're scary, to be honest, and they're just not needed I feel like.”
This report, presented as News at 10, frames the issue as part of a wider trend of criminals concealing their identities, linking it to shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. It repeats the key details of the proposal and public reaction, with a strong emphasis on the need for the ban.
- “Behind the recent surge in shoplifting and other antisocial behaviour, criminals are increasingly concealing their identities.”
- “There's no good reason to be wearing a balaclava in a city centre in the middle of the summer.”
- “I don't really find it intimidating. So is a ban over the top? I think so, yeah.”
Broadcast Timeline
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