Birmingham city council is seeking an injunction to stop flags from being hung from lampposts amid a long-running row with an anti-migrant group.
Campaign group Raise the Colours encourages people to fly the St George’s flag and Union Jack, and is believed to have started last summer in Birmingham. But the movement has been at the centre of a dispute with authorities, who say unauthorised flags and banners on highways put “public safety” at risk.
On Wednesday, the council submitted an injunction application to the High Court, bidding to prevent any “unauthorised attachments” on highways. In the application, it said the move follows incidents that have involved “harassment, intimidation or obstruction during removal activity”.
It added the action is “not directed at any particular community, belief or viewpoint” but focused on public safety and the responsible use of public funds.
“Today, the council submitted an injunction application to the High Court as part of our ongoing work to prohibit unauthorised attachments on the highway, including flags and banners,” it said in a statement.
“Birmingham City Council continues to manage unauthorised attachments on the highway, including flags, banners and signage, through a structured, evidence-led process. The installation and then reinstallation of flags, does have an impact on the public and we have witnessed incidents that have involved harassment, intimidation or obstruction during removal activity.”
It said that the action is focused on “lawful highway management, public safety, the protection of staff and contractors, community cohesion and the responsible use of public funds”.
Raise the Colours issued a statement on Instagram saying it has not yet received or reviewed the court papers so it could not comment on its current position.
It added it rejects “any suggestion that we are seeking to divide communities” and that its aim has “always been to bring communities together through visible expressions of national pride”.
Councillor Jane Baston, cabinet member for equalities communities and social justice, said: “The council is taking a lawful, proportionate and evidence-led approach to unauthorised attachments on the highway. This includes pursuing injunctive action based on the evidence gathered to date.
“Our priority is to protect public safety, staff and contractor welfare, community cohesion and the responsible use of public funds. We ask residents and community groups to support this approach and to ensure any displays are placed only where permission exists.”
It comes after Oxfordshire County Council secured a ban from flags being placed near highways in July. In the ruling, the judge said that workers have faced abuse or intimidation while taking flags down, as well as residents.
