Horsham Plaza management has asked all patrons to take the hood of their jumper or jacket off before entering the centre.

Horsham Plaza manager Allison Roberts said the move was put in place to discourage anti-social behaviour and ensure personal identify recognition.

She said the policy was implemented this week as a preferred condition of entry.

Mrs Roberts said helmets and hoods should be removed in the interests of the safety to all patrons.

“We’re a social hub for many people and from time to time a small amount of people try to be a nuisance,” she said.

“We felt that because it is the policy of the banks, hotels and other businesses, we should implement it too.

“We think we should be able to see everybody’s faces.

“Of course they can wear hoodie tops, but just not the pull the hood up.”

Wimmera Security Service director Peter Bird praised Horsham Plaza’s policy.

He said the policy followed a worrying trend of anti-social behaviour throughout the city.

“This has eventuated due to an escalating number of occurrences,” he said.

Mrs Roberts said people wearing bicycle or motorcycle helmets would also need to remove their head wear prior to entering the plaza.

“If you are wearing a helmet or hood from your jacket, as a courtesy we request people remove these items before they enter the plaza,” she said.

“We don’t think it’s an unreasonable request.

“We are fully heated this time of year, you don’t need to have a head covering.”

Mrs Roberts encouraged other Wimmera business owners to adopt the same policy in their stores.

“It would be good for us to stick together as a town, and to do this together as a region,” she said.

Mrs Roberts said people who wore religious head coverings such as a hijab, niqab or burka would not be asked to remove them while in the centre.

Mr Bird said he also hoped the trend would spread throughout the region.

“I’d like to see the entire business association of Horsham have this policy as a preferred condition of entry,” he said.

Mr Bird said he hoped the policy would discourage anti-social behaviour.

He said he hoped the policy would encourage a positive culture for all plaza patrons.

“The plaza is an area that’s meant to be family orientated,” he said.

Horsham Plaza management put up signs outlining the policy at plaza entry and exit points this week.