The controversy began after the country's largest shopping centre, Bluewater in Kent, outlawed the tops, along with baseball caps, as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was one of the first to back the move, saying the hoods were part of an 'intimidating' uniform. Tony Blair has also come under fire for backing the move - the Prime Minister has promised to tackle anti-social behaviour as a priority and says the ban might help to improve feelings of safety.
 | | 'Hoodies': menacing? |
But opposition parties have ridiculed the Prime Minister's backing of a ban Managers at Bluewater have drawn up a code of conduct for the centre and people contravening it will be asked to leave the complex. Guidelines say intimidating behaviour by groups or individuals, anti-social behaviour including swearing, and wearing clothing which deliberately obscures the face such as hooded tops and baseball caps, will not be allowed. Should Derbyshire follow Kent's lead? Should places such as Derby's Eagle Centre outlaw the wearing of hoodies and baseball caps? Should Derbyshire's local councils go one further and ban them from public areas? Do you feel intimidated by groups of people wearing hooded tops and caps? Or is it really just a case of let people wear what they want, when they want? You said: (This message board is now closed) Sharon
I just wanted to say that when I came into work yesterday, 5 members of staff were wearing hoodies, the staff in question aged between 24 & 43 years old, where do I work?....... A Public Library. It's good to know that we are cool again! maxi boy
i is doin debatin about dis topic and im a against bannin hoodies cos i want 2 look cool not 2 smash up some shop its not my falt da goverment are slow at stopin yobs on are streets and why should i be punished for goin wid da fashion. maxwell Mel Stott
It's not just about the clothing, but about the fact that these kid's hang around in large intimidating gangs. Not all kid's with hoodies are bad, but unfortunately, all the bad apples DO wear the characteristic black hooded top or cap. I am sick of going to my local shop and having to walk through a dozen or more intimidating youths. The gangs should be dispersed around known hang outs, or there should be a curfew for under 18 year olds if without an adult. That's tough ruling, but something has to be done. Just to touch on another subject also...I think alot of these youths tned to bunch around the person in the group with a car, and then go for dangerous and intimidating rides. The DSA should raise the age of being able to geta riving liscense to atleast 18. James
Hoodies should not banned as there is no problem with them. Only the small minority of people use them as camoflage. The ban is stupid and pointless.At go to a school and the staff all complain. j
no offence to most of those on here but maybe we should bother more about the literacy levels of people, because hardly any of you on here can spell properly ScArEcRoW
This is the most stupid thing i've evr heard of. I'm not really into wearing hoodies, but i do have a few hooded jackets. I'm not impressed. I'm a set 1 student, if can't wear my hood up in the cold without being suspected as a potential thief then I don't know what to do!?!?! Hannah. Maidstone
I think hoodies should be banned because they scare little children and you can't see there faces thank you. Brenda Sam
I personally because I wear hoodies myself think that banning them from shops is ridiculous, I don`t belong to any gang or have ever been in trouble for anti-social behaviour and its just a way for the older population to hold the younger population to account for anti-social behaviour. The government should be focusing on important issues e.g. world peace or the trial of saddam hussein. I`m not saying that this is not an important issue because it is but since Bluewater started this issue of debate I hope that they are not selling any hooded item of clothing because before banning them you need to make sure there not in the shops. Vicky pitchford
I think they should stop hooded tops then there will be more less buglers and they will be more more money Jode n Holz
i don't think hoodies should be banned cos their a decnt piece of clothin and it's just gansta's wit the wrong attitude when people get the wrong idea cheers xx MATT
how can you jugde people like that? It's bad. Just cos of people's dress sense doesn't mean older people have to stereotype! lyle
i wear a hoodie and if they ban them ill still wear 1. all u greebs are just jealous Rupez of derby
hoodies shudnt be banned cus its an item of clothing. tho i do fink if its not raining it dus look a bit stupid wearing ur hood up and thats coming from a chav (me) Scachav
I don't think Huddy's should be banned - personally I think what is inside counts 4 more. To me it looks "cool" seeing Huddys & Baseball Caps worn together,I think it rocks.I think this kind of "fashion" is very special.I think wearing the caps above & under Huddys rock too!. abbie
hoodies are jsut stupid :P Tony Hwak
no way dood!!! michael caris
i think thay shud not be band because it is an item of clother Lyndsey
I dont think they should be banned because it is just a form of style and people might like the way they look. amie
no hoodies should not be band Jamie Bone
I think you should be allowed to wear hoodies because if you can't you can't waer a coat Vera Numscull
I don't see what the problem is. If yobs are no longer allowed to wear hooded tops, surely then their behaviour will change and they will become law abiding citizens. Wont they? kolkron
you brits are imbeciles! from-a proud, hoodie-wearing american Abbie
hoodies are a type of clothing and should be allowed any time any place. just like a t-shirt or shorts etc bill
we live in a lawless society so not many people follow the rules what is needed is more control but as we have a stupid goverment what can we do bill
the people that cause trouble frighten the police as well as the general public it is not hoodies that cause the trouble but drug takers and pushers but if for some reason i,e,going into a shop ect wearing a hood it should not be allowed as it frightens the staff on duty Brokenheartedsuicide
Well it seems this hoodie thing is pointless like people have said its who wears them i personally think we should ban chavs from towns oh and by the way im a rocker bring back the glam goth punk look me thinks by kraig 19 Gail Kent
What about the muslims who cover their faces with their traditional dress. If you try to ban the hoodies then contenscious issues could be raised here to, after all it conceals their identity.. Doc Kildare
So why are petrol stations forcing motorcyclists to take all their headgear off and not yobs wearing hoods and baseball caps? ricky cleaver
i think this is utterly stupid soon we will not be wearing anything at all this is the first step to controlling us with what we wear!!!!!! bianca
I just wanted 2 say that when i wen home yesterday my whole family was weqring hoodies and they are like 25 and hoodies r better because there warm Bianca
we sdould we able to wear hoodys because we ent all bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jess
i think that chavs should be band because some smoke and it is getting to us and it is not fair Dali
I'm wearing hoodie today in support of the youth. Government suppression with the support of big business has no place in modern day society. Rock them hard bru!! Ellie 13
At my school you are allowed to weare hoodies just as long as there is no offencive wrighting on it so why cant you weare them in shopping centers because its not as if some one is going to commit a crime coz there is cctv camaras everywear and actually cctv camaras i think are more intimidating coz they are allways watching you kimz da best
wots up wi wearin a hoodie foe christ sake. its a piece of clothing nowt else! alicia
y shud hoodies b banned its stupid y shud people assume tht youths r bad jus cos of wat they wear? laura
i think that the bann on hoodies is stupid. it's cramping a teenagers style! Charlotte
Maybe this is a little extreme, but it seems like every day is another step towards the 1984 society written by George Orwell. the hooded person
i hav had enuf of this no more i am going to were a hoody weather eny one like it or not. no 1 is going to stop me and this gos to every one else were it were the hoody...NO ONE CAN STOP YOU... ON YOUR OWN YOU ARENT MUCH BUT TOGETHER THE HOODYS ARE ONE. dannyz da best
threres no point in all this because what about all the people that are not doing any crime at all and just wearin a hoodie for peace of clothing ??? think about what your doing chaza
ok i feel quite strongly about these sorta subjects coz i have been hounded by people in this type of get up but i am also friends with people who were this get up i have decided (coz i iz smart me) it isnt what you wear it's who you are that counts, this is obviously trying to break up 'crew' behaviour dont prevent lettin people were wat they want that pointless and will only annoy people go after the ring leader people with sence can see that perventing people from wearing what they want will make this more of a dictatorship and what right will they take away next the freedom of expression! dont hate the cloths hate the people idiots will be idiots no matter what they wear! J
I wear a hoodie and I'm in my thirties! I have to agree with Heather. The anti social youths will still be anti social whether or not they are wearting hoodies or baseball caps Heather
Personally, hoodies are an item of clothing. Banning them is an infringement on our rights. After all, not only teenagers wear hoodies - parents, grandparents, basically, everyone! To those worried about hooded gangs - do you really think that banning hoods will help? This will just provoke them, and force them to find another way of covering their faces. We should be concentrating on the people in the hoods, rather than the clothing they wear. This is just silly and side-tracking. Heather, 15, Grammar school non-hoody wearer of N.Yorkshire. Lan
And yet again the government, council/powers at be can’t deal with an issue in society and take a rational action and would rather play the card of ‘look, we’re taking action’…..by making the most ridiculous object the culprit. Next you’ll be telling me if I wear a shirt out of my trousers, I’m associated to a criminal organisation ir pose a risk to society. OAP’s will be intimated by large groups, wearing a hoodie or not, it’s natural in their time of life and a strong reflection of the society we live in. There are people underneath those hoods, and if their attitude is to cause trouble, they will be doing that with or without a hoodie. chloe hough
i am a young woman of 17 who wears hooded tops, i don't try and make people feel unsafe and do not wear them in order to intimidate the public. i do feel their are youths who are antisocial but a ban on hoodies wont improve the situation. Rob Perry
Think about it though its not just teenagers who wear hoodies i dont know weather anyone a has noticed this but joggers/athletes where hoodies you see hoodies in gyms and sports centres adults seem to beleive its a trend but it really isnt it is one of the stupidest things the government has done if you feel intimidated by teenagers wearing hoodies then why not just avoid them because if you avoid them then they will avoid you i should know as i am a teenager who wears a hoody now and then. Soon the government will go to far and this is just the starter of the worse of things yet to come as people feel warm inside a hoody not just for the fashion but its nice to just slip your hood up if it starts to rain the only thing i would ban the hoody for, is for not having the hood up in shops but still being able to wear the hoody itself just without the hood i hope someone takes time to read this as i am part of the youthfull community and i know what children want and do not want its easier to know what a child wants if you just talk to them rather than disiplining them or biting their head off. lee smith
i think they should keep the hooded top i reckon that they are used for good not bad Michael
bann the hooded gangs Phil Butt
I'm a 43 year old new grandad and I wear hoodies. Although I say so myself I'm a respectable, hard working member of the public and would be whether wearing a hoody or a three piece suit. If the authorities ban these items of clothing do they think that people wishing to hide their features won't easily find another way to do that? Jeanette 13yr Old Hooded and Proud
I'm wondering if it's because mostly teens wear them, and if a teens wears something everyone who wears that is automatically a hoodlum. I don't think wearing a hoodie makes you a criminal or suspicious, it's your behavior that does. I’m sure if people found business suits intimidating they wouldn't ban those. I know here in America hoodies are given as a choice of jacket for our uniforms. If someone goes into a convenience store with pajama pants on and a hoodie are people going to go “OH NO THEY’RE GOING TO SHOOT US; TAKE COVER!!”, I doubt it; most likely they’re going to say “Oh great another college bum!”. What happens if its cold yet not that cold that you need a coat and mittens or what if its raining, I think a hoodie could fix those problems easily. Banning hoodies is outragous and unreasonable. Jay, DERBY
Have you heard all the so called "Hoodies" whinging! What about all the OAP's that are terrified to come out of their homes because they see a gang of Hooligans outside wearing "Hoodies" - shall we just ban OAP's instead and let the younger society do what they want. My Grandma lives alone and is terrified of them - shame on you ! beckie
i think its pathetic because it dosent cover their face and they will just set another trend simular to the hoodies!!! people use baraclavas to kill people!! i don't see them being banned!! its a discrace socialganjamanhollandia
the vandal hoodies who wear hoods to cover their id are the scum of babylon. but don't stigmatize the youngster that do no harm a hooded person
i am not a bad person i wuold not do any thing out of order 4 fun i deffend all u pepz out there like me who where hoodys just because we where hoodys dosent mean we are bad people...the goverment hav sum nerve eny of u ou there who is like me with a black hoody rise against oppression u r who u r and no amount of people can change that........wear wat u like!!!!! dan
i aggre with daniel people who were hoodys are not always chavs chavs are the 1s who do all the damage track down the chavs.KEEP THE HOODY!! lawrence benjamin james hodgkinson
i was shocked to find out that certain shopping plazas have banned "hoddies". surely it is the person who wears the item of clothing rather than the item itself. becky
hoodies are a fasion item and they are the only type of jumpers sum youths have. i dont no about any 1 else but they are the only type of jumper i have. Alisha
i think its ridiculous banding hoodies! hoodies are used for all different reasons not just for fashion! biff
This is all wrong. I wear hoodies all the time. I can't get into most places without them cuz I have a shaved head with tattoos so I always need to keep my head covered. Sue Sharp
Derby should have a ban on hoodies to make people feel safer while out shoppong and at night Glenn Walker
Muslims women where clothes to obscure their face due to their religion, so are they going to ban Muslims too? It’s the people wearing them that cause the trouble not the item of clothing. The discrimination against all young people seems to have become the norm these days and I feel victimised by the press and popular opinion. So while I’m being thrown out of a public place, all night drinkers are earning the government more tax and causing more crimes in bars and clubs across the town. If I committed a crime wearing a chicken suit would you ban chicken suits? I think not. Maybe the government could spend millions on a hoodie licence scheme, and stop people with a criminal record wearing them? Bonzo
im a yute and like wearin hoodies. me and my mates should be allowed to wear our gear wherever we like. so what if we want to hide our ugly mugs. everone should wear hoodies then we will all be in the same boat. Daniel
ban the "chavs" hoodies, they cause the antisocial behavior, myself, i wear a black, band hoodie, our kind just keep ourselves to ourselfs and harm no1, britians chav culture is getting out of control ! Iain maverick palmer
I think hoodies should not be banned because there are a fashion acsesery Emily+*+*+*+*+
I dont think that hoodies should be band.The reason why is that your clothes say anything about your personality.Maybe there could be a spacific time to band them in the evenings. lizzie mc naughten
i think hoodies shouldn't be ban otherwise they will get wet Alex Hilson
Dont ban them. their just a fashion item. sure if their being used threateningly then its bad but just wearing one doesent mean your a thug. i have one and ive never commited a crime Rey Mysterio
dont band hoodies they r wicked man dan
dont band hoodies they r a item of clothing they r very populaur and they dont show they r up to somein also they sell very well Jules Burdall
Unfortunately ther is a conception that this apparel is the 'uniform' of the anti-social and unruly elements in society and on those grounds I can see why a ban should be considered but feel that is a reaction to a percieved cause rather than the proper reaction which would be to remove the cause in the first place. The disrespect and anti- social behaviour of a certain percentage of the young population is caused by lack of parental guidance and discipline, a lack of discipline at schools and a legal system that has swung so far to the soft side that it is unbelievable. If a young person is guilty of serious misbehaviour not only should they suffer the consequences(which would mean the return of Borstal) but the parents should also be penalised when it can be shown that it is their 'don,t care less' attitude which may be the root cause behind the behaviour. Schools should be allowed to use corporal punishment and 'soft' magistrates and judges should be sacked along with sentences being served in the FULL TERM that is handed down. HR
There is a difference to wearing a hooded top and wearing a cap with a hood over it to hide as much of your face as you can. Many different types of people display anti-social behaviour from old ladies to young mothers to mr average joe. However, groups of 'hooded' lads hanging around outside shop entrances etc is really intimidating, and it annoys me that at 25 (and usually very confident) they can make me cross a road or not go into a shop. I might add that it is also their body language and the way some of them look at you (often looks of hatred or disgust for some unexplicable reason) and not just the hoodies! Basically disipline in the home as well as in schools is needed. But when the kids know they have more rights than the adults in our society - who would dare say a word or interfere? I know I would think twice about it these days! Clark Corfield
Listen. You go into town, you see plenty of 12 year old kids with peaked caps, smoking cigs, with mckenzie tops, lonsdale, burberry, nike addidas etc! and you keep away, the general belief (usually true) is that they threaten, assault, do drugs, drinking, stealing, speeding, a HUGE list of crimes that obviously extend to bad situations such as murder, 'as seen on tv'. anyway, i wear a 'hoodie'. i am 17 years old, i have never hit anybody in my life, i don't smoke, hardly drink, i cause no threat or problem, yet am i now the thug? this seriously is pointless, kick the 'chavs', and let us do what we want to do. (as a random point of reference i'm from telford in shropshire, just incase anybody else if from around there and knows what i'm on about) Signed. G
I think most kids that wear hoodys wear them to get that image (ganster). But hoodys do cause alot of trouble and i think they should be band. If that will make people feel more safe then so be it. Arkany
The stereotype of young people within our society is unjust. A hand full of 'yobs' if you will, which have a troubled background are setting the picture of how we see any group of young people. The saying 'you shouldn't judge a book by its cover' fits in nicely. A thug is a thug by being anti-social and violent not by wearing the latest hoodies and popular baseball caps. ayshling
i think its pathetic banning hooded tops and baseball caps! people should be able to wear what they want when they want! The shops in bluewater probably sell hooded tops and baseball caps anyway so they can't complain about people wearing them! I don't think that Derbyshire should follow on in Kent's footsteps! The will loose publicity! you'll be banning skirts next for being too revieling! how immature! by telling people what they can and can't wear your changing them and noone has a right to do that! Tom
I think that this is Political Correctness gone mad. I wear hoodies the whole time. I'm nota thug. I just like them because they are comfortable. another reason that i wear them is because in the summer i surf and they are a part of surf culture. hoodies are also part of the music i listen to. This is stupid and stereotyping people who wear hoodies are not all thugs. I'm not. kirsty d
jus because someone wheres a hoodie does it automatically make them a criminal and a 'youth' , the idea is pathetic Steve A
Yes they should be banned from public places as those wearing them do make you feel intimidated also whenever you see them they always seem tyo look furtive. Brian
Teenagers are just trying to copy American youth gangs . But I do agree that some youths are using it to to keep themselves not being reconized , Annette
If we had not abandoned discipline this situation would never have arisen. if this is what it takes to restore law and order and give ordinary people a feeling of security then go for it, and also the distinctive uniform for people who are out on community sentences. if thats what it takes to put right the past stupid liberal attitudes and the consequences we are now seeing, learn the lesson from your mistakes Neil Tonks
The 'hoodies' are no different to punks, mods, teddy boys or any of the other youth cults which crop up from time to time. Banning their 'uniform', however, is something new - no-one ever seriously proposed banning safety pins, parkas or crepe-soled shoes as far as I know. It's an absurd suggestion. How on earth could a nationwide ban on hooded tops and baseball caps ever be enforced? How would a law be written to precisely define what these items of clothing actually are? In any case, the youngsters would simply choose some other form of headwear as their uniform. The argument about surveillance cameras is flawed, as any type of hat or hood could potentially hide the face from these devices, depending on the angle at which the camera is viewing the wearer. Mike
All areas follow Kents' lead. They are far too intimidating and they KNOW IT. Why should my family be worried when we see a group of teenagers hiding their identity? amy
i think that you are only going to pick on certian people eg tennagers suspicious people but i think it is a brilliant idea but a bit crazy Rob
I feel threatened by drunk beer boys out on a saturday night at the cheap commercial pubs and clubs at weekends. They wear Shirts, trousers and shoes. I think they should ban these items from society as well. Lets have a national dresscode. Come to think of it, pensioners on their motobility scooters whizzing around nearly hitting people - they make me afraid - lets ban grey trousers and shirts too. Chris R.
Is this for real? Did I just really read this, please tell me it's the joke of the week. I have lots of hoddies, I enjoy them, they are comfortable, they last a long time, they grow on you, and on those windy days that hood comes in handy. Politicians need to worry about better things then waste their time on something as so petty as an article of clothing. You might as well ban everything with a hood then, winter coat rain jacket ect ect, what a load of rubbish. Why don't we just not leave our on house then, and give up our freedom of wearing a comfortable article of clothing, sad, just plain sad. dennis king
It's about time we made a stand against yobbish behavour I agree totally Jay, DERBY
ban the "hoodies", young hooligans and stupid trends go together Bill Hopkinson
go for it,hoods could be considered an obstruction of the law,,re survailence cameras. Rob Park
Only reason to wear a hoody "up", is to hide the face from security cameras.Ban them. As for baseballcaps, a lot of law abiding adults wear them, so keep them. Anyway, most neds wear them tilted back, so the troublemakers can be seen anyway. Micky Sheehan
Yep, ban them. Just like motorcycleists have to remove helmets in banks etc. How are the police supposed to use all this expensive CCTV equipment if you can see thier faces. J.Burdall
In areas like Bluewater it is much easier to enforce a ban such as this as it is privately owned and not public space. I think that this idea has an awful lot going for it but expect there to be screams of 'invasion of civil liberties, human rights and discrimination' The trouble with the type of clothing that is being banned is that it is be worn as the 'regalia' of those who are antisocial and unfortunately this means that everyone wearing it gets tarred with the same brush. If it has the desired effect of cutting down or out the 'yob culture and misbehaviour I'm all for it. | 
