‘Stupid!’ Uproar in Romford as hoodies banned in shopping areas
It’s not hard to spot a hoodie in Romford in east London – hooded tops have become almost as ubiquitous as jeans around the UK. So a new rule banning anyone from putting up their hoods in the town centre’s shopping areas has not gone down well with some.
“It’s the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” says Mohamed Amraoui, a 24-year-old prison officer.
Ski masks and motorcycle helmets are also forbidden, while surgical masks and religious garments are not. The initiative by Romford Business Improvement District has been backed by Havering councillors and local Metropolitan police officers as a measure against antisocial behaviour.
“It’s a debatable topic because stereotypically someone wearing a ski mask wants to make trouble,” says Amraoui, whose wardrobe at home contains dozens of hoodies. “But there’s a lot of diversity around here and people wear it for fashion.”
Hoodies have been a fashion battleground for decades. In 2005, several teenagers were given antisocial behaviour orders (asbos) to stop them wearing hoodies on penalty of jail. After the Bluewater shopping centre banned them that year, David Cameron used the issue to rebrand his party as “compassionate Conservatives” with his “hug a hoodie” speech. Now, antisocial behaviour has been rising again across England and Wales – or at least people believe it has. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that about 30% more people reported experiencing antisocial behaviour in 2020 than in in 2012.
Labour has made crime a key campaigning issue, and the government responded last month with an action plan. A laughing gas ban attracted most attention but there were measures on hotspot policing and extra funds for youth support.
There is support for the ban in
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