Council looks to ban 'intimidating' face coverings

Basildon Borough Council is considering a ban on face coverings being worn to intimidate people

People wearing face coverings such as masks, hoods and balaclavas in public to intimidate others could be fined to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in a town.

Basildon Borough Council in Essex has agreed to hold a month-long consultation on plans to extend its public space protection order (PSPO).

Since 2022, there has been a rise in the number of people wearing face coverings, especially balaclavas, often to commit crimes, according to the council.

Kerry Smith, independent councillor and portfolio holder for law, order and enforcement, said people should be able to walk through the town centre without being harassed "with some sort of 70s throwback"

A councillor said people should be able to walk through the town centre without being harassed

Councillors discussed the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.

Council documents said that recent consultation examined fear and perception of crime and safety during the day and night.

They said that 27.6% of those who took part felt somewhat unsafe in daytime, and 5.2% extremely unsafe.

It also found 44% of respondents felt extremely unsafe after dark, 44% felt somewhat unsafe, and 8% felt neither safe nor unsafe.

Labour councillor Emma Callaghan said: "In a recent survey, 42.5% of women feel extremely unsafe in the town centre.

"This is a really good, welcome initiative and just shows we're committed to this."

Essex Police said officers could ask someone to remove a face covering under a Section 60AA order, which is temporary and put in place when police think people might use face coverings to hide their identity and commit a crime.

But those orders only last 24 hours, and the only other power police have to get someone to remove a face covering is under a PSPO.