Face Coverings in Public Places: Amendment 1

As an amendment to motion S7M-01375 in the name of Thomas Kerr (Face Coverings in Public Places), leave out from “notes the Scottish Government’s” to end and insert “notes concerns that existing legislation may not provide police officers with sufficient preventative powers where individuals deliberately conceal their identity and there are reasonable grounds to believe that crime, intimidation or serious public disorder may occur; considers that a clear distinction must be made between people peacefully wearing religious dress and those deliberately concealing their identity in circumstances connected with criminality or serious disorder, and notes calls for the Scottish Government to review the adequacy of existing police powers, in consultation with Police Scotland and police representative bodies, and to consider proportionate additional powers to allow officers, where there are reasonable grounds and subject to appropriate safeguards for religious observance, health and other legitimate purposes, to require the temporary removal of face coverings where necessary for the prevention of crime or serious public disorder.”