// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Police to crack down on face coverings at protests
Hampshire police plan to crack down on face coverings at protests
Police have announced plans to crack down on the use of masks and balaclavas at a planned protest in Portsmouth.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it would use new powers under the Crime and Policing Act to prevent people involved in protest activity from wearing face coverings that conceal their identity.
The measures will apply in parts of the city from 10:00 BST on Saturday until Sunday morning, with anyone breaching the restrictions potentially facing arrest.
Officers said the powers were aimed at preventing violence, intimidation and disorder following protests in the city over the past week.
Police officers were deployed to Portsmouth on Sunday evening
This comes after masked demonstrators were seen at anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend.
A separate order will also allow officers to require people to remove masks and other items used to conceal their identity.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said: "It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially.
"Let me be clear, these powers are not being implemented to prevent protest, but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer."