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EXPLAINER - Are facemasks at protests banned? Read our briefing on new powers allowing police to designate an area a ‘mask-free zone’ for up to 24 hours netpol.org/2026/10/21/e...

Netpol

@netpol.org

What does the law say about masks at protests? This new power allows the police to designate an area a ‘mask free zone’ in a specific area (e.g. town centres) for 24 hours. When an order is imposed, simply wearing a face mask becomes an offence and the police could arrest you

21/10/26, 3:11 pm2 reposts2 likes

Netpol

@netpol.org

Which protests are likely to be targeted for masking bans? It is unlikely to apply to every protest. Our expectation is that anti-fascists are the most likely to find themselves targeted.