Key Points
- Public Consultation Suggested: It has been stated that the North Tyneside Council is actively looking into plans to carry out a public consultation about imposing possible restrictions on face coverings that can be used for criminal acts and anti-social behavior.
- Enforcement Legal Mechanism: The council has also considered using Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) as a legal mechanism for preventing people from concealing themselves.
- Politically Driven Move: This has been done in response to a full council motion passed in July by the Conservative group which had the support of all parties following minor modifications made by the Labour administration.
- Reported Incidents: According to the official statistics, there have been 654 incidents of crimes and anti-social behaviors involving motorbikes during a period of 12 months in North Tyneside.
- Responsibility of Enforcing Restrictions: The council administration pointed out that any future restrictions would depend upon the police only and not involve council wardens.
North Tyneside (Newcastle Times) September 23, 2026 – North Tyneside Council’s Labour administration is preparing to consult residents on introducing new measures aimed at restricting face coverings used in connection with anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. The local authority is considering the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) across the borough or targeted locations to grant enforcement agencies powers to intervene when identity concealment aids illegal acts, particularly those involving e-bikes and shoplifting.
- Key Points
- Why Is North Tyneside Council Considering a Ban on Certain Face Coverings?
- How Did the Proposal Originate in the Local Authority?
- What Impact Has Anti-Social Behaviour and E-Bike Crime Had on the Region?
- Background of the Particular Development
- Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Residents, Businesses, and Law Enforcement
Why Is North Tyneside Council Considering a Ban on Certain Face Coverings?
As reported by Austen Shakespeare of Chronicle Live, the local authority’s decision to assess restrictions follows growing concerns regarding individuals deliberately concealing their identities to commit offences or engage in disorder without detection.
During a cabinet meeting, Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson, who also serves as the chair of the Safer North Tyneside Partnership, addressed the ongoing review into enforcement policies across the local area. As reported by Austen Shakespeare of Chronicle Live, Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson stated:
“As the chair of the Safer North Tyneside Partnership, one of the additional ones (PSPOs) we have looked at as a result of a council motion is about face coverings. We will look to bring a consultation on face coverings and a couple of other areas as well. They are very good policies that help us enforce.”
However, Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson stressed the boundary between council duties and police authority regarding potential enforcement on the ground. As reported by Austen Shakespeare of Chronicle Live, Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson explained:
“One of the things we have to be clear about is that this will have to have police enforcement on some of these, as opposed to council officers. I am not expecting to put council officers in harm’s way.”
How Did the Proposal Originate in the Local Authority?
The ongoing council review was prompted by a political motion originally introduced by North Tyneside Council’s Conservative opposition group during a full council meeting in July. The motion called upon the local authority to explore tightening regulations surrounding mask usage in the borough, specifically referencing issues connected to e-bikes and shoplifting.
As reported by Austen Shakespeare of Chronicle Live, Councillor Lewis Bartoli of the Conservative group clarified the precise scope and intention behind the proposed measures during the July meeting:
“This motion does not seek to ban face coverings, nor is it intended to interfere with anyone who wears one for religious, cultural, medical or any other legitimate reasons. What we are asking the council to consider is whether the police and authorised council officers should have another practical tool available to them when someone is deliberately concealing their identity while involved in anti-social behaviour or suspected criminal activity.”
Following the introduction of the motion, the Labour group proposed minor amendments, leading to the motion being successfully voted through with cross-party support. As part of the resolution, the council agreed that the Elected Mayor would work alongside Northumbria Police and the local authority’s community protection team to gather evidence on whether face coverings were being actively used to conceal identities for anti-social or criminal motives. The agreement specified that if the gathered evidence met a sufficient threshold, a formal public consultation would be brought forward.
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What Impact Has Anti-Social Behaviour and E-Bike Crime Had on the Region?
Data incorporated into the cross-party motion highlighted the scale of vehicle-related anti-social behaviour and disorder across North Tyneside. According to statistics highlighted by the Labour group during the council debate, North Tyneside recorded 654 reported incidents of motorcycle-related crime and anti-social behaviour over the preceding 12-month period.
These reported incidents were distributed across several key localities within the borough, including:
- Killingworth
- North Shields
- Wallsend
- Whitley Bay
The gathering of evidence by the council and Northumbria Police remains ongoing to determine whether the threshold required to initiate a full Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) consultation has been reached.
Background of the Particular Development
The review into face coverings forms part of a broader, long-term effort by North Tyneside Council and local police forces to combat nuisance vehicle usage, shoplifting, and youth-related anti-social behaviour across Tyne and Wear. Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were created under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, providing local authorities in England and Wales with the statutory authority to restrict specific activities within a defined geographic area if those activities have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of local residents.
In recent years, local councils across the United Kingdom have faced increasing challenges associated with the illegal modification and misuse of e-bikes and e-scooters. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly noted that offenders frequently wear full-face masks, balaclavas, or neck gaiters to obscure their features from public closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and police patrols, making identification and prosecution difficult.
North Tyneside Council has routinely utilized PSPOs to manage public spaces, having previously introduced and renewed orders regarding alcohol consumption in public places and dog exclusion zones in key public parks and coastal areas. The current exploration of face-covering restrictions represents an expansion of these statutory powers to address evolving forms of anti-social behaviour.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Residents, Businesses, and Law Enforcement
If North Tyneside Council formally progresses from the preliminary evidentiary stage to a full public consultation and ultimately enacts a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) restricting face coverings, the decision will impact several key stakeholder groups across the borough.
1. Local Residents and the General Public
For law-abiding residents, the introduction of a face-covering PSPO could lead to an increased sense of public safety in town centres, transit hubs, and residential neighbourhoods that have experienced heightened levels of e-bike nuisance and anti-social behaviour. However, the success of the policy will depend heavily on clarity. Because the order is explicitly designed not to penalise individuals wearing masks for medical, religious, or weather-related reasons, public education will be required during the consultation phase to ensure residents understand their rights and do not fear unlawful challenge by authorities.
2. Retail Businesses and High Street Shopkeepers
Commercial hubs in areas such as Wallsend, North Shields, and Whitley Bay stand to benefit if the policy effectively deters targeted shoplifting and anti-social gatherings. Retail workers frequently report challenges in identifying repeat offenders who conceal their identities behind face coverings. Giving law enforcement specific powers to require the removal of identity-concealing masks under suspicious circumstances could act as a preventative deterrent, potentially reducing retail crime and improving safety for shop staff.
3. Northumbria Police and Council Officers
The policy will directly affect operational procedures for local police officers. As Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson highlighted, enforcement of face-covering restrictions will fall squarely on Northumbria Police rather than council wardens to avoid exposing municipal staff to danger. If enacted, police officers will gain an additional operational tool to challenge individuals suspected of using face coverings to evade identification during criminal activity. Conversely, this will place additional resource demands on police patrols to monitor compliance and handle potential disputes over reasonable excuse exceptions.
