MP backs town's proposed balaclava ban

Mansfield could follow other towns and cities by introducing a ban on balaclavas after leaders expressed their interest in the move.

Steve Yemm, Labour MP for the town, has confirmed he is in favour and council talks about the move are ongoing.

It comes after Nottingham became one of the first cities in the UK to introduce a ban on balaclavas in September, giving authorities powers to demand face coverings are removed and issue fines if they "reasonably believe" they are being used to commit crime or anti-social behaviour.

Yemm said both the police and the public backed the change and it had been under discussion by the district council for some weeks.

The ban means that anyone who does not remove their face covering when asked to by an officer can be fined.

Similarly to Nottingham, any rules brought in would be part of a public spaces protection order (PSPO).

Yemm said early results from the Nottingham initiative - where no fines have been handed out and only two people have been asked to remove coverings - did not undermine the case for a ban.

"Police believe it is a success and the fact there have been no fines just means people do remove their balaclavas," he said.

"It's an important question of public safety and the police across Nottinghamshire are in favour and the council in Mansfield are looking very closely at introducing this power.

"And when I ran a survey recently, it is a very popular measure among residents who are very concerned about this question."

In a statement via the district council, directly elected mayor Andy Abrahams said: "We've been listening to the concerns being raised by Mansfield people and we are actively reviewing options to help improve feelings of safety across the district.

"Following discussions with partners including Nottinghamshire Police and Mansfield BID, the council is preparing to launch a public consultation on potential changes to the public spaces protection order (PSPO) before the end of the year."

Nottingham's ban applies to "any garment or material worn over the face in an attempt to hide or conceal/partially conceal a person's identity" and includes, but is not limited to, balaclavas, scarves, snoods, masks or "other such items to cover the head and face with the aim of causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress, committing crime or anti-social behaviour".

Face coverings worn for religious, health or work reasons are exempt.

Elsewhere in the region, Derby City Council said recently it was looking at introducing its own balaclava ban - with Derbyshire Police adding that it was "watching the outcome" of Nottingham's ban.

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