Face coverings to be banned in major British city within days - but burkas will be exempt

Refusal to comply could result in a £70 on-the-spot fine, while prosecution carries a maximum penalty of £1,000.

Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan said residents had been left feeling intimidated by individuals wearing balaclavas, skeleton masks or similar coverings without any "legitimate justification".

She said Nottingham residents should be able to go about their lives "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.

"This is not about telling people what they can wear or targeting those who have a genuine reason for covering their face.

"It is about giving authorised officers the power to act where a face covering is being used to help conceal a person's identity in connection with crime or anti-social behaviour, or where it is worn in a manner that intimidates, harasses, alarms or distresses others."

The restriction does not amount to a blanket ban on face coverings.

Exemptions have been made for religious, cultural, health, work, weather and personal safety purposes.

Officers on the ground will judge whether a covering is being worn for a legitimate reason.

More than 2,200 residents responded to a public consultation, of whom over 90 per cent backed the measure, according to the council.

Data compiled by Nottinghamshire Police recorded upwards of 180 incidents in the city centre linked to face coverings or balaclavas in the year to June 2026.

Neghat Khan said Nottingham residents should be able to go about their lives 'without feeling frightened or unsafe'

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Roughly three quarters of those incidents occurred in areas including Old Market Square, Clumber Street and the vicinity of the Victoria Centre.

City Commander Superintendent Chris Pearson said: "There is only one reason that young people come into the city wearing balaclavas and that is to conceal their identity to commit crime and intimidate members of the public and our business community. Not any longer. Your time is up."

"With the introduction of our facial recognition van and our high-visibility city centre patrols, there really is nowhere to hide," he added.

Officers also have the power to confiscate face coverings and refer offenders to the Immediate Justice Programme, which requires young people to undertake community work such as litter picking or graffiti removal.

Persistent offenders risk being handed a Criminal Behaviour Order, potentially barring them from the city centre indefinitely.

The new powers will be incorporated into an existing public spaces protection order that took effect in July, which also addresses issues including aggressive charity collections, noisy buskers and public urination.

Matt Shannon, the council's executive member for community protection, neighbourhoods and equalities, said: "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."

The restriction forms part of Operation Reclaim, a multi-agency initiative tackling youth antisocial behaviour, illegal e-bikes, drug dealing, rough sleeping, weapon carrying and retail crime across the city centre.

Antisocial behaviour in the area has fallen by 42 per cent since Operation Reclaim was launched.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: "This restriction makes it easier for police and partners to stop crime and antisocial behaviour in its tracks by taking away the veil of anonymity that some people try to hide behind."