Scotland’s Police could gain authority to compel individuals to remove balaclavas and other face coverings after the proposal was endorsed by David Linden, the convener of Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee. Linden cited concerns over young men in black attire and face coverings causing fear in communities and potentially leading to serious incidents. Inspired by Nottingham's recent legislation allowing police and council officers to order removals during anti-social behavior, Linden is exploring similar measures with the Scottish Government.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Scotland, the police may soon have the authority to order people to remove balaclavas and other face coverings. This proposal was endorsed by David Linden, the convener of Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee, who cited concerns over groups of young men wearing all-black attire and balaclavas that are “terrifying” communities. Recent protests have featured individuals in such disguises, contributing to public safety fears. Linden also mentioned an "epidemic" of e-bikes and e-scooters being used by youth often dressed completely in black and with face coverings. He warned on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme that the situation could lead to serious injuries or fatalities if not addressed.
Written for “Police Powers Expansion” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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‘I fear we are getting to a point where someone is going to get seriously injured, or worse still killed. ‘That is how serious this situation has become, particularly in our city and urban communities.’
right frames face coverings as a threat to public safety
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'We need to get a grip of this.'
right calls for stronger enforcement against perceived threats
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‘That is unsettling for people in our communities, so I do want to work with the Cabinet Secretary (for Justice) to see, do we need to look at a situation where the police are given more powers, because we cannot have a situation where people, whether they are adults who should know better, or young people, are roaming around with balaclavas. ‘We live in the 21st century and this is just not acceptable for people.’
right advocates for increased police powers to address face coverings
Leaning score +0.65 for article 13943 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-16
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Scotland's police could be given the power to force people to remove balaclavas after the plan was backed by the convener of Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee.
uncertain
plan → click → Committee
Police calls for officers to get new powers to require people to remove balaclavas and other face coverings have been backed by the convener of Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee.
asserted
officers → get → Committee
SNP MSP David Linden said the issue of face coverings is a ‘pertinent one’, warning groups of young men dressed all in black and wearing balaclavas are ‘terrifying’ communities.
asserted
groups → say → communities
Recent protests have seen groups of balaclava-wearing men take to the streets in parts of Scotland.
asserted
groups → see → Scotland
Mr Linden, the MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, also highlighted the ‘epidemic’ of e-bikes and e-scooters ‘being driven by young people, often completely wearing black and wearing face coverings’.
asserted
bikes → highlight → coverings
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, he said: ‘I fear we are getting to a point where someone is going to get seriously injured, or worse still killed.
asserted
someone → speak → point
‘That is how serious this situation has become, particularly in our city and urban communities.’
asserted
situation → become → communities
He spoke of ‘young men roaming around now, dressed in black, wearing face coverings, terrifying people’, insisting: ‘We need to get a grip of this.’
asserted
We → speak → this
The city of Nottingham has recently granted police and council officers the power to order the removal of balaclavas and face coverings when used to conceal a person’s identity during anti-social behaviour, and Mr Linden said he would be ‘exploring’ with the Scottish Government if similar action could be taken here.
uncertain
action → grant → Government
New powers to require people to remove balaclavas and other face coverings have been backed by the convener of Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee
‘We have entered new territory with people wearing face coverings, often complemented with peopled dressed completely in black,’ he said.
asserted
he → require → black
‘That is unsettling for people in our communities, so I do want to work with the Cabinet Secretary (for Justice) to see, do we need to look at a situation where the police are given more powers, because we cannot have a situation where people, whether they are adults who should know better, or young people, are roaming around with balaclavas.
asserted
who → want → balaclavas
‘We live in the 21st century and this is just not acceptable for people.’
asserted
this → live → people
The MSP said the problem is part of ‘cultural issues starting to arise with young men’ who he said are ‘roaming around in packs and dressing the same’.
asserted
he → say → same
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), also said there is a need to ‘do more on face coverings’, saying police should have ‘powers to remove them, to see who the individuals are’.
asserted
individuals → say → them
Also speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, he added: ‘The face coverings, we need a law change, we need to give police more powers.
‘
asserted
we → speak → powers
We are able to remove them on certain occasions, but it needs to be more matter of fact that they (police officers) can do it.’
asserted
they → remove → it
While he accepted there would be cases where someone has a religious or medical reason for wearing a face covering, the SPF general secretary insisted: ‘We need police officers on the street, when they come across somebody, that they have the power to tell them to remove their mask so they can see who they are.’
asserted
they → accept → mask
He also raised concerns that individuals on e-bikes and e-scooters wearing balaclavas may not be wearing a helmet.
uncertain
individuals → raise → helmet
Mr Kennedy said: ‘If you are on an e-bike and you are wearing a face covering, the concern I have got is you are not wearing a helmet.
asserted
you → say → helmet
I don’t see many people travelling about the city centre on e-bikes wearing helmets.’
asserted
people → see → helmets
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