# Crime and Policing Act 2026, Section 157: Offence of concealing identity at protests

Extent: E+W

(1) A person commits an offence if the person is—
(a) in a public place that is in a locality designated under section 158, and
(b) wearing or otherwise using an item that conceals their identity or another person’s identity.
(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—
(a) a purpose relating to the health of the person or others,
(b) the purposes of religious observance, or
(c) a purpose relating to the person’s work.
(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.
(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.
(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).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/157 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026/section-157
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.