Oxfordshire County Council has launched a legal bid to prevent flags from being placed on its roads. The council is set to ask the High Court in London to grant an injunction to stop the unauthorised placement of flags on or near highways, citing safety risks, trespass, and obstruction.
Residents and council staff have faced harassment or confrontation when flags have been removed, the council said. The widespread flying of Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags following an online campaign called Operation Raise the Colours has become contentious. Several local authorities have removed them from public infrastructure.
Some politicians have decried the removals, but others have claimed the increased number of flags being flown was a result of xenophobia or racism. Oxfordshire County Council said flags have been placed on or near public roads without permission for months, despite a formal legal notice in March and pre-action legal letters sent to individuals last month.
The case is now due to be heard at the High Court on June 23, the authority said. Council leader Tim Bearder said: "This application is about protecting our residents, our workforce, and the values we stand for as a county. We are proud of Oxfordshire’s diverse communities and of our Council of Sanctuary status. We proudly fly the Union flag and St George’s flag at County Hall, and we fully support the right of residents to display flags on their own private property. However, there’s an important distinction between lawful expression and activity that puts people at risk or intimidates residents in their own communities. This activity is not about national pride or unity. It is unlawful behaviour, which has caused fear and division within our communities. We have a clear responsibility to keep people safe and ensure our public spaces are welcoming and inclusive for everyone."
