A prohibition on face coverings in Nottingham city centre has officially taken effect. Starting on Tuesday 15 September, officers from the police and community protection teams are empowered to request the removal of coverings if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they are being used to hide identity for criminal or anti-social purposes.
Those who decline to comply face a £70 fixed penalty notice or potential prosecution, with courts authorised to impose fines reaching £1,000. The restriction operates under a Public Space Protection Order and forms part of Operation Reclaim, a wider city-centre safety initiative.
The enforcement excludes face coverings worn for legitimate purposes, including religious observance, cultural practice, health reasons, occupational requirements, weather protection or personal safety. Determining legitimacy remains the responsibility of enforcement officers.
Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan stated that residents had reported feeling intimidated by individuals wearing balaclavas, skeleton masks or similar coverings without justifiable reason.
Our residents should be able to live, work and spend time in Nottingham without feeling frightened or unsafe. That is why we are taking decisive action and becoming one of the first cities in the country to introduce a restriction of this kind.
Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that non-compliance constitutes a criminal offence, with potential arrest and court proceedings.
Hopefully by having this ban now in place trouble causers will think to not go into the city centre.
What did the public consultation reveal?
A public consultation conducted earlier in the year generated substantial support for the measure. According to The Independent, over 90% of approximately 2,200 respondents backed the ban, with findings indicating that face coverings
contribute to feelings of intimidation and fear, particularly when worn by groups involved in anti-social behaviour, disorder, criminal damage, theft, nuisance riding of e-bikes and e-scooters, or other activities causing harassment, alarm or distress.
However, some consultation participants raised concerns about potential misuse of enforcement powers by police and authorised officers. Police evidence documented more than 180 face-covering incidents between June 2025 and June 2026, providing a factual basis for the restriction.
How will enforcement work in practice?
Labour councillor Matt Shannon, executive member for community protection, neighbourhoods and equalities, clarified that the ban targets criminal activity rather than legitimate face coverings.
This isn't about targeting people who wear face coverings for religious, medical or any other legitimate reasons, this is about targeting criminals who feel immune while wearing face coverings to intimidate Nottingham people.
Shannon outlined that enforcement will operate alongside Operation Reclaim, which focuses on dismantling drug networks operating in and around the city centre.
The other thing is that, which we are talking to the police about with Operation Reclaim, external, 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.
Superintendent Chris Pearson of Nottinghamshire Police expressed full support for the restriction.
We are fully supportive of the public spaces protection order and we are fully committed to ensuring that Nottingham city centre is the safest place to live, work and visit.
What do Nottingham residents think?
Young people interviewed in the city expressed backing for the measure. Shayma Muhammadqboliyom, 19, who is applying to college in Nottingham, explained her perspective on visibility and safety.
I don't think I would be comfortable in front of a man wearing a balaclava. If there are cameras around, and he's about to do something, I think it's important [that you're able] to see his face for an investigation if they're doing something illegal. It's important to recognise his face. I agree with it.She added,
I would feel safer if I saw the face of the person in front of me.
Jaden Dale, 19, a student at Nottingham Trent University, indicated support for the enforcement while noting a potential practical concern.
As a majority, I'm pretty glad, because the children who run around can be intimidating. I think it helps most people around Nottingham but the only problem would be the Deliveroo drivers, who kind of wear it to keep dust out of their eyes and stuff like that. Other than that, I think it's a good thing.
How does this fit into a wider trend?
Nottingham's action follows growing momentum across England for similar restrictions. Stafford Borough Council approved plans to prohibit balaclavas as part of its updated public spaces protection order earlier in the year. Community leaders in the West Midlands have subsequently indicated their intention to pursue comparable measures following Nottingham's implementation.
The timing of the ban announcement coincided with heightened political debate on the issue. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for comprehensive restrictions on full face coverings, including those worn for religious purposes, following masked protesters gathering in Dover. Nottingham's approach, however, explicitly preserves exemptions for religious and cultural face coverings.
Key Facts
- The face-covering restriction takes effect on Tuesday 15 September under a Public Space Protection Order
- Fixed penalty notices of £70 apply for non-compliance, with maximum court fines of £1,000
- Legitimate reasons for face coverings—religious, cultural, health, occupational, weather and personal safety—remain exempt from enforcement
- Over 90% of consultation respondents supported the measure, with documented evidence of more than 180 face-covering incidents in the preceding year
- The restriction forms part of Operation Reclaim, a broader initiative targeting city-centre crime and anti-social behaviour
