Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces regarding protesters wearing (a) balaclavas, (b) niqabs and (c) burkas.

The College of Policing issues guidance to police forces on the use of a broad range of public order powers. This includes guidance on the use of face coverings at protests.

Police decide when to use their powers, based on their assessment of the operational threats and risks for each situation they encounter.

Guidance is published online here: https://www.college.police.uk/app/public-order-public-safety and National protest operational advice