Talks for balaclava ban in Mansfield underway
Mansfield could get its own balaclava ban after leaders expressed their interest in bringing one in.
The town could become the first part of the county to follow in Nottingham’s footsteps and restrict face coverings after it was revealed that talks are already ongoing regarding a crackdown.
Nottingham’s balaclava ban, part of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) making it an offence to do things like distribute leaflets without permission or busk too loudly, was introduced in September after city council leader Neghat Khan revealed plans for it in June.
The ban means that anyone who doesn’t remove their face covering when asked to by an officer can be fined.
Mansfield MP Steve Yemm recently published a letter he had written to district council leader and elected mayor Andy Abrahams asking if the council in Mansfield would consider a ban.
Similarly to Nottingham, any rules brought in would be part of a PSPO.
The letter said: “I am writing to ask whether Mansfield District Council will consider introducing restrictions on the use of balaclavas and other face coverings linked to intimidation, crime and anti-social behaviour, following the approach announced by Nottingham City Council.
“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.”
But, in a response posted publicly online, Mayor Abrahams revealed that the council had been talking about the potential for a balaclava ban for “several weeks” – and that he had told Mr Yemm this already.
And he was clearly frustrated, suggesting Mr Yemm was using “any excuse to get the headlines and talk our town down.”
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!?
“…But any excuse to get the headlines, talk our town down and have a go at the council which seems a popular sport at the moment… A formal response is on its way.”
Nottingham was one of the first cities in the UK to bring in a face covering ban.
It applies to “any garment or material worn over the face in an attempt to hide or conceal/partially conceal a person’s identity” and includes, but is not limited to, balaclavas, scarves, snoods, masks or “other such items to cover the head and face with the aim of causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress, committing crime or anti-social behaviour”.
Face coverings worn for religious, health or work reasons are exempt.