Birmingham council opens door to Union Jack activists facing two years in prison

Thank you for subscribing!

The council gathered evidence of what it termed 'thuggish behaviour' from people putting flags up

Birmingham City Council has applied for a High Court injunction targeting a flag-raising campaign in a move that could see activists jailed for up to two years.

The legal action, launched by the coalition administration, names eight individuals as well as "persons unknown".

The campaign has sharply divided opinion, with supporters calling it an expression of patriotism and critics branding it an attempt to intimidate minority ethnic communities.

Others pointed to the fact the city centre library lit up green and white to mark Pakistan Independence Day.

Among those identified in the application is Ryan Bridge, co-founder of the Raise the Colours movement, which has seen thousands of national flags erected on lamp posts and roundabouts across the city and beyond over the past year.

In a statement, the campaign group said: "For months, community groups have met with council officers, the Police and Crime Commissioner and West Midlands Police, calling for action to stop the spread of divisive flags on public lamp posts and the painting of roundabouts.

"Evidence of threats and intimidation has been provided in support of calls for an injunction. Residents and community groups were deeply frustrated by the lack of meaningful action."

The statement continued: "Thousands signed our petition calling for the removal of divisive flags across our city. More than 120 local election candidates signed our pledge committing to stand against hate and division and take action on these issues.

"We are pleased Birmingham City Council has now taken action.

"We applaud the efforts of Jane Baston, cabinet member for equalities communities and social justice, on collating the evidence provided by the community who have documented the abuse and harassment they have faced when opposing flagging in the city."

Green councillor Jane Baston, the 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.

"We ask residents and community groups to support this approach and to ensure any displays are placed only where permission exists.""

Oxfordshire County Council secured a permanent High Court injunction on the same issue last month, with a judge noting that council workers had encountered abuse and intimidation while removing flags.

Reform UK's 22-strong group of councillors on the authority hit back at the injunction bid, with group leader Jex Parkin calling it "extraordinary".

He argued: "The Union flag and St George's Cross belong to everybody. They are the flags of our country. If we reach a point where flying them is itself described as divisive, we've got a much deeper problem."

Fellow Reform councillor Alan Feeney dismissed the legal action as a misplaced priority, pointing to the city's ongoing bin strike, pothole-ridden roads and costly traveller incursions on parks as more pressing concerns.

When the council first ordered flags removed from lamp posts in August last year, political opponents highlighted that Palestinian flags had been permitted to fly elsewhere in the city, where nearly a third of residents are Muslim.

In a statement posted to Instagram, the group insisted: "Raise the Colours rejects any suggestion that we are seeking to divide communities.

"Our aim has always been to bring communities together through visible expression of national pride."

The anti-hate campaign group Brummies United Against Racism and Hate Crime welcomed the council's move, describing it as "positive" and noting it had helped gather evidence of what it termed "thuggish behaviour".