{
  "id": 11297602,
  "title": "Kemi Badenoch backs face covering ban at protest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/kemi-badenoch-backs-face-covering-ban-at-protest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T22:39:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/kemi-badenoch-backs-face-covering-ban-at-protest/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch indicated her support for a potential ban on face coverings during protests, should police deem it necessary. This stance emerged in the wake of protests in Dover on September 5th, where masked individuals obstructed major roads for several hours. Badenoch affirmed her respect for lawful protests but expressed her disapproval of face coverings, stating, \"What I don’t want to see is people using protest as a cover for committing crimes and believing that they can hide from them.\" Kent Police is currently evaluating the possibility of implementing measures to enforce the removal of face coverings under existing police legislation. Badenoch emphasized that the core issue lies not with the use of face coverings, but rather with the ongoing border crisis and the lack of action being taken. She advocated for a plan to halt the influx of boats, declaring, \"We’ve got to stop the boats, and I have got a plan to stop the boats.\" The UK should reconsider its membership in the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate the deportation and detention of individuals deemed unwelcome, Badenoch argued. She maintained that until these problems are addressed, protests would persist. According to government data, the number of arrivals in the UK during the first half of 2026 declined by 41% compared to the previous year. Badenoch attributed this downward trend to factors beyond the policies of the opposing political party. The Home Office emphasized its commitment to combating dangerous small boat crossings, highlighting the success of joint efforts that prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts and led to the seizure of 1,100 boats and engines since the election. Notably, the UK-France agreement has resulted in French authorities intercepting 4,300 crossing attempts and halting 185 small boat launches within the first three months. The Home Office also cited National Crime Agency analysis indicating that enforcement actions targeting the supply of boats and engines have significantly contributed to the reduction in crossings during the first half of 2026.",
  "summary": "Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she would support a ban on face coverings at protests if police believe one is needed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Asylum votes show people want help, says Kemi Badenoch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/asylum-votes-show-people-want-help-says-kemi-badenoch",
        "published": "2026-10-01T23:03:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}