Really?
As of January 8, 2026, the Crime and Policing Bill is in its final stages of debate in the House of Lords (scheduled for completion around January 27). While the law is not yet a permanent fixture on the statute books, the "terror" you mentioned is being replaced by a massive shift in police tactics in several major UK cities.
1. Current Hotspots: Where "No Mask" Powers are Being Tested
Because the government is prioritizing "taking back the streets," several police forces are already using existing Public Order Act powers to mimic "No Mask Zones" during women's rights meetings:
London (Metropolitan Police): For the "Let Women Speak" and other gender-critical rallies planned for early 2026, the Met has begun issuing Section 60AA orders. These orders allow police to demand the removal of masks in specific areas (like Hyde Park or Parliament Square) where they anticipate "intimidation or harassment".
Bristol: After the chaotic scenes in 2024 and 2025 where masked activists mobbed speakers, the Avon and Somerset Police have come under intense pressure. In recent January 2026 briefings, they have signaled a "zero-tolerance" approach to masked counter-protesters near women's meetings on College Green.
Brighton: Historically a flashpoint for this violence, Sussex Police are now being closely monitored by the Home Office. After being criticized for allowing "masked men" to surround women in 2024, they are now using strict "cordon" tactics to keep masked protesters at a distance that prevents them from "drowning out" the speakers. Se
