Public get chance to comment on proposed face covering ban in Stafford

Residents and businesses in Stafford Borough can now have a say on whether face coverings should be banned to help the police tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB).

It would mean people causing or suspected of ASB or criminal activity will be asked to remove their face covering and if they refuse would get a £100 fixed penalty. 

But Stafford Borough Council has stressed that people with face coverings who are not looking to cause trouble will have nothing to worry about. 

The face covering has been added to a review of the council’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) - which is designed to tackle activity that is having a negative impact in an area. Other provisions in the PSPO are aimed at, for example, stopping people climbing on the roofs of buildings in the town, drinking alcohol on the streets, and for those not cleaning up their dog’s mess in public areas. 

And now members of the public and businesses can have their say with a consultation running until 16 August from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/pspo-2026-consultation. Hard copies will also be available at the Civic Centre Reception, Riverside, Stafford. All the feedback will be considered before any new PSPO is implemented from early December. 

The consultation states: “The Council is considering a new restriction across the Borough that would prohibit the wearing of face coverings that substantially obscure the face, only where they are worn in circumstances likely to: 

• Cause harassment, alarm or distress or 
• Facilitate anti-social behaviour or criminal activity

PSPOs are reviewed every three years.

Senior councillors were told that people had reported being ‘alarmed’ and ‘intimidated’ when confronted by those with face masks and that the coverings can also make it difficult for CCTV operatives and witnesses to identify those involved in criminal activity.  

Anna Nevin, Head of Wellbeing at the council, said there would be a commonsense approach and nobody would be asked to take off a face covering unless they were looking to cause trouble.

She said the proposal was put forward following feedback from local police about ways to support them in tackling issues of anti-social behaviour and other offences.

“Other areas of the country have already implemented this provision in a PSPO and more are in the process of introducing it. Anti-social behaviour can blight the lives of communities and we, along with other agencies, want to try and make sure our borough is a safe and welcoming place to live, work and visit.” 

More on Public Spaces Protection Orders from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/pspo