People who live, work in and visit Nottingham are being invited to have their say on proposals relating to the use of face coverings in the city centre.
Nottingham City Council has launched a two-week consultation on a proposed addition to the city centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which came into effect on 27 July.
Under the proposal, an authorised officer could require someone to remove a face covering if they reasonably believed it was being used to conceal their identity for the purpose of committing crime or anti-social behaviour, or causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.
It would not introduce a blanket ban on face coverings. The restriction would not apply where they are worn for legitimate reasons, including religious, cultural, health, work, weather or personal safety reasons.
The consultation follows concerns raised during the council’s recent city centre PSPO consultation, which received more than 1,300 responses. Face coverings, masks and balaclavas were among the issues frequently mentioned, with respondents linking their use to intimidation, fear and perceptions of anti-social or criminal behaviour.
Evidence gathered by Nottinghamshire Police and the council identified over 180 city centre incidents involving face coverings or balaclavas between June 2025 and June 2026. Around 75 per cent of the incidents analysed took place in Castle ward, including Old Market Square, Clumber Street and the area around the Victoria Centre.
Councillor Matt Shannon, Nottingham City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Waste and Equalities, said: “We want everyone to feel safe and confident when visiting Nottingham city centre.
“Residents and businesses raised clear concerns about face coverings during our previous consultation, particularly when they are used to conceal someone’s identity while they are involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour. Evidence from the police and our CCTV team has also shown that this is a recurring issue.
“This proposal is not a blanket ban and would not affect anyone wearing a face covering for a legitimate reason. It is intended to give authorised officers a targeted and proportionate way to intervene when a covering is being used in connection with intimidation, anti-social behaviour or crime.
“No final decision has been made, and we want to hear from residents, businesses, young people and everyone who uses the city centre before the proposal is considered further.”
The consultation includes an online survey, face-to-face engagement in key city centre locations and targeted work with city centre businesses and youth groups.
Following the consultation, all responses will be reviewed and considered by the council’s Executive Board before it decides whether the city centre PSPO should be changed.
The consultation closes at 11:59 on Friday 14 August 2026.
Have your say at: Management of Nottingham City Centre Public Spaces Protection Variation Order 2026
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Nottingham’s city centre PSPO came into effect on 27 July 2026 and will remain in place for three years, subject to review.
- The proposed restriction would apply within the existing city centre PSPO area.
- The consultation concerns a proposed variation to the PSPO. No restriction relating to face coverings has yet been introduced.
- If approved following consultation, a person would only commit an offence if they failed, without reasonable excuse, to remove a face covering when lawfully required to do so by an authorised officer in the defined circumstances.