Will Britain's protest menaces finally be unmasked? New laws MUST give police powers to ban face covering at rallies, review says, after pro-Palestine marches were hijacked by violent thugs singing vile anti-Semitic chants

Review expected to recommend giving police more powers at demonstrationsThere is concern among some in Whitehall at protestors using face masks 

A review into political violence is expected to recommend legislation to allow police to ban face masks at protests.

There is concern among some in Whitehall about the use of masks and scarves to hide protestors’ identity during political marches and demonstrations.

This concern has been heightened following pro-Palestinian demonstrations during which some protestors have covered their faces. There have been clashes with police and anti-Semitic chanting among some that have attended the demonstrations.

It is expected that a review being undertaken by John Woodcock is to recommend the measure as part of a tranche of measures to counter violence from extremists on both sides of the political spectrum, The Sun on Sunday reported.

Sources told The Sun on Sunday that American-inspired ‘tactics where extreme protesters mask up and create mayhem aren’t welcome here in the UK.’

‘The police should have clearer powers to insist marches can only go ahead if protesters don’t try to hide their identity to get away with violence or hate crimes.’

Legislation to give police additional powers to ban the use of face masks or face coverings at demonstrations is expected to be recommended by Lord Walney's review

Legislation to give police additional powers to ban the use of face masks or face coverings at demonstrations is expected to be recommended by Lord Walney’s review

There has been concern in Whitehall after their use at demonstrations by far-right and far-left extremists

There has been concern in Whitehall after their use at demonstrations by far-right and far-left extremists

Police have powers to tell protesters to remove their face coverings when they are being used as disguises, but not as an explicit condition that they can set to approve a demonstration

Police have powers to tell protesters to remove their face coverings when they are being used as disguises, but not as an explicit condition that they can set to approve a demonstration

Police currently have powers to tell protesters to remove their face coverings when they are being used as disguises.

The John Woodcock report is expected to make a ban on face coverings an explicit condition that police can impose before a protest is allowed to go ahead.

The report has been handed into No. 10 and the Home Office, and reactions are expected later this year.

There have been demonstrations across Britain in support of the Palestinians since the October 7 attacks, during which Hamas and other terrorist groups killed over 1,000 Israelis and kidnapped almost 250 civilians and soldiers. Israel has engaged in a drawn-out military campaign in the Gaza Strip since.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

In an interview in The Telegraph shortly after the review was announced, Woodcock said that there was ‘not an equivalence of threat between the far-left and far-right,’ and indicated that the far-right were a far greater concern.

Woodcock, whose formal name in the House of Lords is Lord Walney, was appointed as the independent adviser on political violence and disruption to the government in November 2020.

Consultations took place between March 2021 and May 2021, with concern at the time having been raised following the January 6 takeover of the US Capitol and Extinction Rebellion campaign in the UK.

Former Home Office ministers Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel have both spoken in support of the expected recommendation.

Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: ‘Face coverings are being deliberately used by law-breakers to disguise themselves and intimidate the public. The impunity for extremists on our streets must end.’

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel said that ‘it is vital that our law enforcement are given all the tools and powers to tackle protestors and terrorism to keep the public and the country safe.’

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘The Independent Review into Political Violence and Disruption, led by Lord Walney, aims to increase the UK Government’s understanding of the increase in activity amongst the far-right, far-left, and other political groups, and the points at which their activities can cross into criminality and disruption.

‘We will respond to the report’s recommendations in due course’.

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