[Margaret Pilkington]

Well Jason, I am sorry that you consider that feeling intimidated and offended not a good enough reason to ban the covering of the face.
If it is unacceptable to go into a bank with your face covered( by a motorbike helmet, a balaclava or a hoodie) then it is unacceptable for a reason. That reason is that you cannot be recognised and if you perpetrate a crime or an offence, then you cannot be traced.
Being unacceptable in a bank means that it is unacceptable in the street too.

The wearing of the face covering is oppression of women and it is disrespectful to men because it implies that the women's faces are so beautiful that the men of the community will be unable to control their carnal desires.
The reality may be far different.
But the point you miss is that these women are separating themselves from their local community. They do not desire to integrate, they have chosen to adopt this country, yet do not want to be a part of it. Many of them do not speak english( though they might understand it). Their face covering means that we are never ever going to strike up a conversation( even if it were possible) they have placed a barrier in the way of any likelihood of social interaction and in doing so they raise suspicions about themselves and their Asian community.
I thought you had retired from this thread anyway.