REFORM UK BRINGS FACE COVERINGS MOTION TO SENEDD

Reform UK has put forward a Senedd motion saying “full-face coverings are against British values” for a short debate on Wednesday, 21 October. Jason O’Connell, the party’s MS for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, will lead the discussion, which has been allocated 30 minutes. Reform Wales says it wants to consider restrictions where people use coverings to conceal their identity in connection with crime, antisocial behaviour or intimidation. Its account of the debate focuses on those circumstances, while the motion uses broader language.

Andrew Griffin, who represents Gwynedd Maldwyn, and Art Wright, who represents Casnewydd Islwyn, support the motion. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called last month for a ban on all full-face coverings in public spaces, including religious coverings. Home Office minister Sarah Jones said police had powers concerning face coverings at protests, but that wearing them for religious reasons during daily activities was “absolutely fine”. O’Connell said coverings used to conceal identity could make it harder to identify people responsible for crime and antisocial behaviour.

Reform Wales has cited discussions about possible changes to Newport’s city-centre Public Spaces Protection Order. It has also pointed to a restriction introduced in Nottingham in September that allows officers to require people to remove coverings when officers reasonably believe they are connected with crime, antisocial behaviour or intimidation. Local policing bodies have attributed a subsequent 40% fall in recorded city-centre antisocial behaviour to the wider operation that includes the restriction. O’Connell said Reform Wales wanted “a serious discussion about proportionate restrictions” to protect communities and restore confidence in town centres.