As with all laws, it’s in the application of the law that makes the difference.
Trust me, police don’t want to give someone a criminal record for wearing a mask.
They will likely apply the law alongside existing laws.
I imagine if they ask someone to remove a face covering and they refuse, officers will likely issue a section 35 and order the person to leave the area for 24 hrs. Which is what they do already, as the law already states you can’t wear a covering to threaten or intimidate law abiding protesters.
Any law around the right to protest should always be examined and monitored but what this law is designed for is to allow others to go about the lawful act of peaceful protest without being dragged into civil unrest by masked goons. And I can pretty much guarantee that’s what will happen in practise.
Trust me, police don’t want to give someone a criminal record for wearing a mask.
They will likely apply the law alongside existing laws.
I imagine if they ask someone to remove a face covering and they refuse, officers will likely issue a section 35 and order the person to leave the area for 24 hrs. Which is what they do already, as the law already states you can’t wear a covering to threaten or intimidate law abiding protesters.
Any law around the right to protest should always be examined and monitored but what this law is designed for is to allow others to go about the lawful act of peaceful protest without being dragged into civil unrest by masked goons. And I can pretty much guarantee that’s what will happen in practise.