It's time to ban the oppressive burka and stop balaclava-clad thugs running rampant in Welsh towns

It's time to ban the oppressive burka and stop balaclava-clad thugs running rampant in Welsh towns Reform UK MS Jason O'Connell writes for GB News following yesterday's Senedd debate on banning the burka Sign up to the Opinion Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us For decades, the decline of Welsh town centres was defined by industrial loss. Coal mines shut, heavy industry packed up, and high streets slowly emptied. But economic decay isn’t the only problem we face today. In the space left behind, we have seen a rise in violent crime, intimidation, and antisocial behaviour that is destroying the life of our towns. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Walk through Merthyr Tydfil or almost any other British town on a weekday evening and you will see it for yourself. Residents are sick and tired of groups of young men wearing balaclavas weaving through pedestrian zones on illegal e-bikes and Sur-Rons. They do it because they know the masks make them invisible to law enforcement. Anonymity has become a weapon. When people cannot see who is walking towards them, trust breaks down and fear takes over. Streets where families once shopped and socialised are being handed over to people who use intimidation to get away with bad behaviour. The rule of law isn't a vague ideal; it means everybody is accountable for their actions. Individual liberty doesn't give anyone a licence to infringe on the rights of others. People have a basic right to feel safe where they live. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Hiding your face to intimidate neighbours is a direct sign of disrespect to the community. Why should law-abiding citizens be forced to accept this as the norm? Rights come with obligations, and no one should be allowed to wear a mask simply to escape consequences. To be clear, no one is talking about medical masks worn for health reasons. This is about stopping crime, backing local traders, and keeping our streets safe. Look at Newport to see what happens when authorities turn a blind eye. Xclusive Jewellers, a family business trading for nearly forty years, was forced to shut its doors after repeated break-ins. Newport’s high street now regularly makes headlines for all the wrong reasons, with boarded-up shops and rising crime. In my role as Shadow Economy Minister, local residents constantly tell me they are simply too scared to go into town after dark. When shops close down and people stay away, local economies die. Plaid Cymru often claim that because policing is reserved to Westminster, politicians in Wales are powerless. That is just an excuse for doing nothing. Look at Nottingham City Council. They introduced targeted measures to crack down on face coverings used during criminal or antisocial activity. Newport City Council recently voted to explore similar action, and I am pressing Merthyr Tydfil Council to do the same. We don't need endless debates on constitutional devolution before taking sensible, local action to protect the public. Reform UK fully supports freedom of religion. But when cultural or religious practices result in the systemic oppression of women, we have to draw a line. Under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women are subjected to severe oppression, banned from secondary education, forbidden from speaking loudly in public, and forced by law to wear the burka under threat of violence. For millions of women living under extreme regimes, the burka is not just a piece of clothing; it is a symbol of subjugation. Due to uncontrolled mass migration, extreme ideologies have begun to take root in parts of the United Kingdom. We should not tolerate radical ideas that undermine the rights and freedoms built up over generations in modern Britain. European nations, including France, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, have already taken action to restrict full face coverings in public. Whether it is groups in balaclavas harassing shopkeepers in Merthyr or radical ideologies undermining our way of life, the point is the same: lawlessness and intimidation cannot be tolerated. It is time to bring back safety, pride, and accountability to our high streets. Welsh families deserve safe towns, strong local businesses, and communities where everyone plays by the rules. 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