By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor

The PSNI want to ban suspected criminals wearing hooded tops as part of their bail conditions, the Derry News can reveal today.
The ban – which has already been applied in a number of recent court cases – is aimed at preventing youths from avoiding detection by CCTV cameras through obscuring their faces with either hooded tops or scarves.
It comes after a case in May where convicted burglar was ordered by a judge at Derry Magistrates Court not to wear a hooded top or gloves as part of his bail conditions.
And now the PSNI have revealed they intend to rigorously apply the ban in Derry throughout the summer months as a means of reducing anti-social behaviour, particularly in the run up to the marching season.
Speaking to the Derry News, PSNI Inspector John Burrows added that the ban will also target anyone charged with involvement in violence in local flashpoint areas such as the Fountain/Bishop Street interface.
“We’re using this operation to clamp down on persistent offenders, and we’ll be asking the courts not to allow these people to wear hooded tops or scarves due to the amount of CCTV we now use for prosecutions,” he said.
“There are already several cases through the courts where we are enforcing these conditions.
“We hope to use it specifically in cases related to locations where there is continuing disorder, such as the Fountain interface area.
“The ban will work alongside other conditions such as curfews, not drinking alcohol and not being allowed on the City Walls.
“That’s not to say people can’t walk around wearing hooded tops, but if its gangs of youths causing trouble, then that’s a different matter.
Insp. Burrows also revealed that in the past six months, the PSNI had carried out no less than 1,000 curfew checks, which had resulted on over 300 people being arrested for breaching their bail conditions.
“If someone is charged with an offence, then we can place a bail condition on and once they appear in court we ask for that condition to be kept on so we can then monitor them,” he explained.
“And if these people are found to be in breach, they’ll be in the cells the next morning.
“We will also be making no apology for the vigour with which we’ll be pursuing these strict bail conditions.”