Major UK city bans balaclavas from today

No more face covering

One of the first cities to bring in a ban for the balaclavas is Nottingham, and police and council officers can ask people to remove a face covering, under the new restrictions.

According to Nottinghamshire Police, people can get asked to remove their covering when they’re hiding their identity to commit a crime or act anti-socially, Sky News reported.

Evidence identified more than 180 city centre incidents involving face coverings or balaclavas between June 2025 and June 2026, the police said.

Nottingham Superintendent Chris Pearson previously said: “Any person found to be wearing a balaclava or similar face covering in the city centre, and we suspect they are involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, will be stopped by our officers.

“We will then use all the powers at our disposal to ensure they cannot wear that item again,” added Pearson.

What will happen to those that don’t remove face covering

What can ensue is £70 on-the-spot fines, confiscation of face coverings and referral to an immediate justice programme requiring community work.

Meanwhile, those who continue to flout the order could be issued with a criminal behaviour order, which could ban them from the city centre indefinitely.

Newest restriction that comes into effect from Tuesday (15 September) is an addition to the city centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) issued by Nottingham City Council.