Nottingham Bans Face Coverings in City Center to Curb Crime Surge
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed the rollout in a statement, calling it a landmark step for the city. Officials said the order — which has drawn public support — empowers police and council officers to compel individuals to remove face coverings such as balaclavas when they are believed to be used to conceal identity while committing an offense.
The new powers give officers significant latitude. Violators face on-the-spot fines of £70 (roughly $94), confiscation of the offending item, and possible referral into the Immediate Justice Program. Those who breach the order repeatedly risk an outright, indefinite ban from entering the city center.
The crackdown follows a sharp rise in reported incidents: Nottinghamshire Police logged more than 180 cases in the city center linked to face coverings or balaclavas between June 2025 and June 2026 alone.
Despite the scope of the new powers, police were quick to clarify limits on enforcement. The order is not a blanket prohibition on face coverings, they said, stressing it will apply only in situations where officers have reasonable grounds to suspect a link to "crime, anti-social behaviour or intimidating conduct."
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