{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026/section-157",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026/section-157.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2026/20",
  "legislation_title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026",
  "path": "section/157",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "157",
  "heading": "Offence of concealing identity at protests",
  "text": "(1) A person commits an offence if the person is—\n(a) in a public place that is in a locality designated under section 158, and\n(b) wearing or otherwise using an item that conceals their identity or another person’s identity.\n(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they wore or otherwise used the item for—\n(a) a purpose relating to the health of the person or others,\n(b) the purposes of religious observance, or\n(c) a purpose relating to the person’s work.\n(3) Where the conduct described in subsection (1) takes place during the initial period specified under section 158(1), a person commits the offence under this section only if section 158(2) has been complied with in relation to the designation.\n(4) Where the conduct described in subsection (1) takes place during a further period directed under section 158(3), a person commits the offence under this section only if section 158(4) has been complied with in relation to the designation.\n(5) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (or both).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 157 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 255(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 157 in force at 29.6.2026 by S.I. 2026/689, reg. 2(1)(l)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/157",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-31T10:30:58.060228+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}