Local councils are warning England fans not to hang St George flags on public property during the World Cup in a bid to “maintain a welcoming community atmosphere”.
Local authorities ban flags on public space during World Cup PHOTO Wikimedia
Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Shropshire are among local authorities asking residents not to affix flags to lampposts or road signs without approval. But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said today that anyone flying an English flag outside their home is “now seen as intimidating to migrants, according to the political class”appropriate Daily Mail.
It all comes after immigration officers were told that wearing England flag badges during the World Cup could intimidate detained immigrants.
The messages appear before the World Cup, England about to start their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 at 9pm (UK time), then play Ghana in Boston on June 23, also at 9pm, and Panama in New Jersey on June 27 at 10pm.
Flags have already started to appear in some areas of England – including the famous Kirby Estate in Bermondsey, south-east London, known as “the most patriotic residential area” from the country.
The situation comes after the campaign “Operation Raise the Colors” became a hot topic last summer, when patriotic activists flew flags on poles and painted them on roundabouts, while critics argued it could be offensive to immigrants.
Now Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer has told residents they are not allowed to “fly flags on lampposts, railings or any public property”invoking “safety reasons”.
He encouraged those who spot flags on the public domain to report them, adding that authorities “they are already prioritizing the removal of flags from sensitive areas and will review the strategy to remove other flags from our properties”.
Shropshire Council announced last month that it was considering penalizing those who attach “unauthorized flags” on lampposts and recovery of removal costs.
A councilor said flag removal was not a regular service and involved extra costs, and the authority planned to remove them across the county.
He made it clear that flying the Union Flag is not a hate crime, but that the unauthorized attachment of objects to public infrastructure is not accepted for reasons of safety and cost.
St George Cross flag PHOTO gov.uk
In parallel, officers in immigration detention centers have been told that wearing England flag badges during the World Cup could be perceived as intimidation.
Detention center staff have been warned not to display such symbols in a report by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) because of the risk of harming “professional standards”.
The incident is part of a wider context of conditions in detention centres, including the use of handcuffs, excessive force and long periods of pre-deportation detention.
Nigel Farage reacted on Facebook, stating that wearing a badge or displaying an England flag is considered by “political class” as an act of intimidation. He criticized the report, saying that supporting the country should not be interpreted as intimidation and that Britain should be proud.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year backed the right of the public to display English flags. His spokesman said at the time that the Prime Minister was proud of British identity and patriotism, including displaying flags around Downing Street during national matches.
