Drop the hood moves in

It has only been a few weeks since a packet of cigarettes was stolen by a hooded offender at the shop.

Store manager Adrian King said his staff already felt safer at work after implementing the condition of entry.

“We are just trying to protect our business and livelihoods,” he said.

“We are nice and polite about asking people to remove their hoods and people are complying.

“It makes the staff think twice if someone doesn’t remove their hood, because they feel like the person must have something to hide.”

The campaign asks shoppers to remove their hoods when in convenience stores, take away shops or pumping petrol.

Senior sergeant Peta Jordan said the condition of entry of removing a hood was no different to wearing shoes in shopping centres, removing helmets before going to the bank or being asked to show the inside of your handbag as the cash register.

”We find that offences are being conducted by people wearing hoods,” she said.

”This is not a law, but we are finding a reduction in crime from it’s implementation.”

Senior sergeant Jordan said businesses were more than happy to jump on board.

“They are educating their staff on procedures and looking at additional security measures,” she said.

Some social media users have said a blanket ban should occur on all face covering items such as niqabs and burkas instead of singling out hoodie wearing.

Senior sergeant Jordan said the police campaign was focused on people concealing their identities with hoods, and not religious head dresses, as they are most prevalent in these types of occurrences.

“It really has nothing to do with those particular head dresses,” she said.

The roll out is currently occurring across the Logan policing district with police asking more businesses to become involved by contacting 3826 1800.