Coventry calls for bans on balaclavas and face coverings

A recent petition has demanded the banning of bike and scooter riders from wearing face coverings on the Coventry Ring Road, as part of a wider Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that is set to be updated in November.

The petition declares: “the town centre has felt increasingly oppressive with the presence of individuals dressed in black from head toe [sic], with their head and face completely hidden, using e-bikes and scooters.”

The petition also states that the ban should be in effect whether or not the bike or scooter is in motion.

Local residents have reported that there are multiple instances of young men committing crimes, but evading punishment as a result of their face being obscured.

Incidents of theft, arson, driving offences, and unruly behaviour have been common in masked riders, leaving many considering all masked riders to be “sinister”, regardless of the rider’s intentions.

We have attendance figures going down in the city centre, this will be part of the problem and when we talk to residents […] they don’t feel safe

Cllr Jackie Gardiner

The number of visitors to Coventry city centre has recently fallen by 220,000 people a month, which some have attributed to development works and the cost-of-living crisis, but Reform councillors have attributed the decrease to masked e-bike riders deterring the public.

Cllr Jackie Gardiner said: “We have attendance figures going down in the city centre, this will be part of the problem and when we talk to residents […] they don’t feel safe.”

Many have also called for the consideration of legitimate needs for face covering, such as for religious reasons, or delivery drivers that are exposed to cold winds for long durations.

Similar antisocial behaviour has been noticed in other major UK cities, with Newport, Loughborough, and Wolverhampton also exploring ways to challenge those wearing balaclavas or face coverings.

Nottingham has already introduced a ban on coverings, presenting a £70 fine for those that refuse to comply.

Earlier this year, hundreds of anti-migrant protestors gathered in Dover, many of whom wore face coverings to conceal their identity. The protest has since opened public debate on the legality of face coverings, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling them a sign of “obvious malign intent”.

The petition in Coventry, currently on 236 signatures, runs until 28 October, where it will then be considered by the city council before its addition to the PSPO. This order aims to stop persistent anti-social behaviour, and is revised every three years.