In a move to curb rising criminal activity that leverages hidden identities, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has formally ordered sustained police enforcement targeting individuals who use masks or other face coverings to obscure their identities while committing illegal acts. The official policy direction was publicly revealed by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a press briefing held Thursday, one day after the Cabinet concluded its scheduled weekly deliberations on public safety. Merchant confirmed that the new enforcement push comes in direct response to a recent string of confirmed criminal incidents, where perpetrators relied on face coverings to hide their features from witnesses and surveillance systems while carrying out offenses. The Cabinet has issued a clear public advisory: face coverings are prohibited when their sole purpose is to conceal an individual’s identity, and all community members are expected to cooperate fully with legal directions issued by on-duty police officers. Importantly, the new policy does not restrict legal uses of face coverings. Exceptions remain in place for work-related requirements, as well as any other scenarios explicitly permitted under existing national law. Officials emphasized that this targeted mask regulation is not a standalone measure, but one key component of a sweeping, multi-pronged national crime prevention strategy. The broader plan also includes boosting visible police patrols across high-risk areas, updating outdated criminal justice legislation, implementing targeted intervention programs for at-risk youth, upgrading nationwide public surveillance infrastructure, and fostering deeper collaborative partnerships between law enforcement agencies and local community groups.
Antigua and Barbuda Police Told to Crack Down on Masks Used in Crimes
