The UK government introduced new legislation aimed at curbing disorder and intimidation at protests by banning the use of face coverings designed to conceal identity and intimidate others. This move empowers police to arrest individuals who use such tactics, with penalties including up to a month in prison and a £1,000 fine.
The new laws regarding face coverings at protests in the UK were announced in early 2024. These legislative changes were introduced as part of broader efforts to curb disorder at protests and provide police with additional powers. The regulations are part of ongoing amendments to the Public Order Act, which have been evolving to address various challenges related to public demonstrations
Police forces already possess the authority to request the removal of face coverings at designated protests where criminal activity is anticipated. However, the introduction of this new offence allows officers to arrest those who defy these orders, bolstering their ability to maintain order and safety at demonstrations.
A government spokesman added “The misuse of face coverings at protests has become a tool for intimidation and evasion of justice.” “These laws are designed to ensure that protests remain peaceful and that individuals accountable for criminal actions face appropriate consequences.” During the southampton protests the anti-racism protestors were not asked to remove their face coverings as they stood underneath a Soviet hammer and sickle communism flag.
The new laws are in place, specifically the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (PCSC) 2022 laid the groundwork for these changes, and subsequent amendments have further extended police powers to manage protests. These new regulations empower officers to arrest individuals using face coverings to intimidate or evade identification, with penalties including up to a month in prison and a £1,000. Although around 50 individuals were seen using sunglasses, face coverings and hoods to form a mob and shout obscenities at the UKIP demonstration. No Police arrests were made and the police did not ask anyone to remove their un-necessary face coverings.
