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Written question asked by Mary Kelly Foy (Labour) on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It was answered by Sarah Jones (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Balaclavas: Anti-social Behaviour

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the levels of use of balaclavas and other face coverings by young people to intimidate members of the public, and (b) the potential merits of measures to address their use in such circumstances.

Answer

The Government is clear that nobody should be subjected to intimidation or threatening behaviour in public spaces. Police have a range of powers available to address criminality and intimidatory behaviour where the relevant legal thresholds are met, including where face coverings are used to conceal identity.

The Home Office has engaged with policing partners on the application of powers to address the use of face coverings to conceal identity. The use of these powers is an operational matter for the police, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
31679
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Anti-social behaviour Young people Balaclavas
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk