Lord Walney, a former Labour MP and adviser to the Home Office, has recommended a ban on masks at public protests. Appointed as an independent adviser on political violence and disruption in 2020 and asked to conduct a review on countering political violence and disruption, he submitted the 100,000-word review just before Christmas.
In the past, he has argued that the police should be able to charge organizers of protests for the cost of policing demonstrations. The Metropolitan Police highlighted the costs of policing some demonstrations, such as the pro-Palestine marches in central London and those by Just Stop Oil activists.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel and former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick support the mask ban. According to The Sun on Sunday, this recommendation is included in the review submitted by Lord Walney.
Lord Walney is due to give evidence to Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee and it is speculated that a complete ban on face coverings during public protests has been recommended. It is not yet clear if the ban would have exceptions for Muslim women who wear burkas or niqabs, which include full-face veils.
The wearing of masks by protesters intent on violence has a long history, dating back to the anarchist organization, Black Bloc, which clashed with police at various protests against globalization.
Foreign criticism of mask bans at protests has been seen in places like Hong Kong, where the government banned masks in an effort to suppress pro-democracy protests. Eventually, the ban on masks was lifted in February 2023.
The Home Office has expressed that the independent review into political violence and disruption aims to increase the UK government’s understanding of far-right, far-left, and other political group activities and will respond to the report’s recommendations in due course.