'It's scary': We asked Wolverhampton locals if balaclavas should be banned

People in Whitmore Reans have given their views on proposals to crack down on face coverings — with one resident saying people wearing them can be “scary”.

A proposed crackdown on balaclavas and face coverings is being discussed in parts of the Midlands as councils and police forces look at ways of tackling anti-social behaviour and improving public confidence.

The issue has gained further attention following proposals in Nottingham, where the city council has been considering restrictions on face coverings, particularly balaclavas.

Read more: Could a balaclava ban be rolled out in the West Midlands?

The debate follows a survey carried out by Nottinghamshire Police in May asking people who visit Nottingham city centre why they sometimes feel unsafe. Almost 2,000 people responded, with face coverings worn by young men among the concerns highlighted by respondents.

The issue is not unique to Nottingham.

In the West Midlands, concerns about young people concealing their faces have also been raised alongside wider concerns about anti-social behaviour, e-bikes and scooters, and groups intimidating members of the public.

So we headed to Whitmore Reans to ask local people what they think.

Wendy Marsh, 62, said seeing somebody approaching while their face is concealed can be frightening.

“If you've got somebody coming towards you, it's quite scary because you can't see the face,” she said.

Wendy said she had witnessed similar behaviour in other places, including Liverpool and Wales, and believes face coverings can make it difficult for members of the public to know who they are dealing with.

“They could be coming to rob you,” she said. “They could be doing anything.”

She also raised concerns about people using e-bikes and scooters while concealing their faces, saying she had almost been hit herself.

“I had to get out of the way quick, which isn't easy,” she said.

Asked whether she would support a ban, Wendy was unequivocal.

“Definitely, definitely.”

A wider debate about youth behaviour

The debate over face coverings comes amid a much wider discussion about young people, anti-social behaviour and public confidence in law and order.

Recent commentary around the issue has pointed to the striking visibility of young men wearing masks or balaclavas in some town and city centres, particularly when combined with the use of electric bikes and scooters.

For Wendy, however, the distinction is relatively straightforward.

She suggested that wearing a balaclava in hot weather was difficult to explain unless there was a legitimate reason.

“If somebody stopped and requested to remove it by law, then maybe they should do so unless there's a medical condition,” she said.

What would a ban achieve?

Supporters of restrictions argue that preventing people from concealing their identities could make it harder for offenders to intimidate members of the public and potentially assist identification.

But a ban would not, by itself, address every cause of anti-social behaviour.

That is where the wider debate comes in: whether tougher enforcement should be accompanied by measures aimed at the social and economic problems that can contribute to offending.

For residents who feel intimidated in their own communities, however, the immediate concern is often much simpler — being able to walk through their local area without feeling threatened.

And that is the question we put directly to people in Whitmore Reans.

Watch our video to hear what locals had to say.