A group hanging St George’s Cross and Union Jack flags along Abingdon Road has prompted a police investigation, following reports of disruption and alleged intimidation.
The incident, which took place during rush hour, saw a group in high-vis jackets using a cherry picker to attach flags to light posts along the road. Residents reported concerns about obstruction, as well as what some described as confrontational or abusive behaviour.
Thames Valley Police has confirmed that it is investigating. In a statement issued on Saturday, the force said it was “aware of an incident that took place on the Abingdon Road… in relation to people raising flags on street furniture” and that enquiries are ongoing. Police added that “where criminal offences are identified, we will take appropriate and proportionate action”.
The group involved is understood to be part of the national movement, Raise the Colours, which has been responsible for similar activity elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council told Cherwell that it “recognise[s] the strength of feeling locally around this issue and the impact it’s having on our communities”. The council added that it supports the “residents’ right to display flags on their own property,” but warned that placing flags on or near highways can create “serious safety hazards”, including reduced visibility and increased risk of distraction for road users.
The council confirmed that its teams remove unauthorised flags “during routine maintenance or where they pose an immediate risk”. However, the council said staff carrying out this work had experienced “intimidating and threatening behaviour”, which it described as “completely unacceptable”. It added that it is working with the police to share evidence so that appropriate action can be taken.
The County Council has since issued a formal legal notice requiring the group to stop placing flags on or near highways without permission. The council warned that failure to comply could result in civil or criminal proceedings.
In a statement, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of the Council, said the “scale and persistence of this activity is affecting communities across Oxfordshire”. Whilst emphasising that the England and UK flags are “visible symbols of democracy and unity”, she described the group’s actions as “an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities”.
Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, also criticised the incident. In a statement, she said that while individuals have the right to display flags at their own homes, “that is not what has happened here”, adding that those involved appeared to have “imposed themselves on the residents… and disrupted traffic in the rush hour”.
Dodds said reports of abusive behaviour “must obviously be investigated” and described the incident as “the opposite of activity to bring our community together”.
Raise the Colours was approached for comment.
