Leicester mayor rejects calls for city centre balaclava ban
Sir Peter Soulsby says there is no evidence a ban is needed, despite business owners raising concerns about masked youths
Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has ruled out introducing a ban on balaclavas in the city centre for now, saying there is no evidence it is needed.
His comments come as Charnwood Borough Council prepares to consider a similar ban in Loughborough next week. Stafford and Nottingham have already introduced measures allowing officers to tackle people who conceal their identities to commit crimes or engage in anti-social behaviour.
Leicester’s existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) covers issues including street drinking, aggressive begging and dangerous use of e-bikes and scooters, but does not specifically address balaclavas.
Sir Peter said he would be open to a ban if evidence showed it was necessary, but the issue had not been raised by residents, councillors or council officers.
He said: “I wouldn’t want to try to introduce a balaclava ban just for the sake of it, because nobody’s raised any evidence that it’s an issue for us in Leicester.”
However, several city centre business owners support a ban.
Dominic Gomersall, managing director of Lumbers jewellery shop on the High Street, said tackling balaclavas would be a welcome move as anti-social behaviour becomes more visible.
Pete Gardner, owner of Cocoa Amore on Silver Street, said he regularly sees masked youths riding bikes and believes the behaviour puts people off visiting the city centre.
Steve Bradley, owner of Maynard and Bradley bookshop and gallery in the Royal Arcade, said masked cyclists riding through the arcade and performing wheelies had become a particular problem.
He said he had been knocked over twice by cyclists and that the behaviour was intimidating and frightening people away from the city centre.
Leicestershire Police have seized more than 800 illegally ridden e-scooters and e-bikes in Leicester since January 2025.
The city centre’s current PSPO is due to expire in April 2028. A decision on extending PSPO measures to the city’s suburbs is expected later this year.