A new balaclava rule is on the table for thousands of UK households, as a major Midlands city moves to ban the item in a crackdown on masked criminals. Nottingham is set to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) targeting nuisance behaviour in the city centre, amid fears that e-bike riding thugs are running riot.
Council Leader Speaks Out
Council leader Neghat Khan expressed serious concern over the issue. "It's a serious concern. People on e-bikes; it's 32 degrees and you're wearing a balaclava. That's not acceptable. It's about safety. People have got to feel confident. This is a place on the up but they've got to feel safe, day or night," she said.
Campaign for Wider Ban
Amy Hodson-Ridgeway, 34, who has been campaigning for change, told the Telegraph: "It would help keep all communities safe." She is pushing for a far wider ban encompassing the whole of England. "These face coverings provide anonymity to countless individuals committing crimes and helps them evade accountability," she added.
A shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, said balaclavas give cocky youngsters the confidence to steal from his shop. "It gives them confidence to hide behind a mask, they know they will probably not get caught as their faces are covered from CCTV," the shop owner explained.
Crime Concerns in Nottingham
The shake-up has been proposed amid fears that Nottingham is the seventh most dangerous place to live outside of London, averaging around 122.2 crimes per 1000 residents. "As the leader of the council, that's not a tag I want," said Neghat at a council meeting. She continued: "I don't care who it is, any time, day or night, you should feel safe. This is your city and we're not going to let criminals and others take it over." Neghat also stated that the city would not rest until they were "the safest in the country."
