Council pleased with flag flying injunction – but not everyone agrees
24/06/2026
The council says it has a legal duty to keep the highway and public spaces safe and inclusive
Oxfordshire County Council has been awarded a High Court injunction to prevent the unauthorised flying of flags on or near the public highway. It was granted yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Council’s Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Beader, said they were pleased with the decision, adding that the activity was never about national pride or support for the England team during the World Cup.
At the hearing a number of named defendants gave undertakings not to put up flags in Oxfordshire, not to encourage others to do it, and not to abuse people taking the flags down.
The council says that residents across Oxfordshire, “from Adderbury to Wallingford”, have complained to them about safety risks, intimidation and distress linked to flag flying from street furniture such as lamp posts.
They added the council has a legal duty to keep the highway safe and ensure that public spaces are safe and inclusive, noting the ongoing scale and persistence of the behaviour of people associated with Raise the Colours had created safety risks, caused distress and led to abuse and intimidation directed at council teams and residents.
Councillor Bearder said: “The injunction helps protects 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.”
But former Olympic swimmer Sharon Davies MBE is amongst those who takes a different view. Writing on X she said: “We are in a very dark place. The football World Cup is on and this council has spent tax payers money going to court to make it illegal to fly Our flag on Our streets.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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