Police have welcomed new laws that require people to remove face coverings or risk a fine or jail time, saying officers will no longer be hindered on the job.

Under changes to the Law Enforcement Act that have the backing of the Islamic community, police can require anyone to remove a face covering - including a helmet, burqa, niqab or mask.

In most cases, the penalty would be a $220 fine, but cases involving motorists could incur penalties of up to a year in jail and a fine of $5500.

The NSW ombudsman will conduct a review of the new laws after 12 months.

"People will only be required to remove a face covering for as long as it takes to identify them," NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said as he announced details of the new laws today.