Ban thugs at protests from wearing masks, ministers are urged
PROTESTERS could be banned from wearing masks at demonstrations under recommendations from the Government’s official adviser on political violence.
Police should have powers to ban masks and balaclavas that allow protesters to hide their identities, the review by Lord Walney recommended.
It follows growing alarm over masked thugs chanting anti-Semitic abuse and clashing with police at recent pro-Palestine demonstrations in Britain.
Such a ban won support from former home secretary Priti Patel and former home office minister Robert Jenrick.
Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: ‘ Face coverings are being deliberately used by law-breakers to disguise themselves and intimidate the public.
‘The impunity for extremists on our streets must end.
‘A ban on face coverings will drive up arrests and successful prosecutions, ensuring extremists face the full force of the law.’
Ms Patel said police should be given the powers they needed to keep people safe, adding: ‘ The public are incensed by the selfish and disruptive actions of these groups, along with the enormous waste of police time and resources that are caused by protesters with their attention- seeking stunts.’
Police have powers to order protesters to remove face coverings if they are being used to disguise their identities.
But Lord Walney’s report urges the Government to make a ban an explicit condition before a protest is allowed to go ahead, according to The Sun on Sunday.
His report has now been handed to Downing Street and the Government is expected to respond later this year. Lord Walney has also proposed that organisers of disruptive protests could be made to pay charges to help cover the cost of policing their demonstrations.
His report suggested that the Government consider the ‘repeated incitements and disorder’ seen at a series of demonstrations against Israel’s war on Hamas, and their impact on police resources.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption, led by Lord Walney, aims to increase the UK Government’s understanding of the increase in activity among the far-Right, farLeft, and other political groups, and the points at which their activities can cross into criminality and disruption.
‘We will respond to the report’s recommendations in due course.’
Lord Walney, a former Labour MP, was appointed as the independent adviser on political violence and disruption to the government in November 2020.
Concerns about political violence were raised after his appointment following the violent takeover of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and the more extreme tactics adopted by the Extinction Rebellion campaign in the UK.
‘Criminality and disruption’