The article argues that balaclavas, once associated mainly with extreme-weather expeditions, armed robbery and paramilitary activity, have become increasingly common among teenagers, protesters and people involved in disorder. It says the continued use of face coverings by e-bike thieves, drug dealers, aggressive demonstrators and Bonfire Night troublemakers raises concerns because masks can intimidate others and prevent identification.

The piece welcomes calls from Scottish politicians and police representatives for greater powers to remove face coverings, but doubts whether such a law would work in practice. It argues that officers often avoid directly confronting masked groups for operational reasons, meaning new powers alone may not lead to arrests or reveal offenders’ identities.