Raise the Colours has been slapped with a High Court injunction banning them from hanging flags along roads in Oxfordshire. The group, led by Ryan Bridge from Bromsgrove, was ordered to stop placing flags without permission or face enforcement if breached.
Court Order and Restrictions
The application was made by Oxfordshire County Council at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The injunction also prohibits named defendants from encouraging others to place flags or abusing anyone removing them. This follows a formal legal notice in March 2026 and pre-action letters in May 2026, which the group ignored.
Raise the Colours continued to put up flags without permission and livestreamed heated interactions with the public, despite warnings. The council stated that the group's activities created clear road safety and public safety risks, caused distress in local communities, and led to abuse and intimidation directed at council teams and residents.
Community Impact
Residents across Oxfordshire, from Adderbury to Wallingford, complained about safety risks, intimidation, and distress. Council teams faced abuse and harassment when removing unlawful flags. The ongoing scale and persistence of the behaviour by Raise the Colours created safety risks and caused fear within communities for almost a year.
Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We’re pleased with this result. The injunction helps protect our residents and our workforce and supports our responsibility to keep the highway safe. This is not, and never has been, about the flag. We proudly fly the Union Flag and St George’s flag at County Hall and we fully support the right of residents to display their own flags – including to show their support for the England football team. However, the behaviour we’ve seen from Raise the Colours is nothing to do with national pride or with support for the England team during the World Cup. It’s unlawful behaviour, which has put people at risk and caused fear within our communities for almost a year. We have a clear responsibility to keep people safe and ensure our public spaces are welcoming for everyone. That’s why we’ve taken this action and why today’s decision by the court provides clarity and protects our colleagues and communities.”
Defendant's Response
After the hearing, Mr Bridge said 311 statements were made against them. He stated: "I still think we are not doing anything wrong. These people think different."
The injunction also covers trespass, obstruction of the highway, and incidents where council teams, contractors, and residents have faced confrontation or harassment when items are removed.
