Overview

• Worthing’s Labour leader Sophie Cox condemned coordinated flag installations as divisive and urged residents to report cases to West Sussex County Council, prompting criticism from local Conservative councillors.
• Portsmouth City Council said a St George’s Cross painted on the Guildhall was unlawful and costly to repair; the paint was removed but damage remains, and road markings will be cleared under legal duties while non‑hazard flags on lampposts stay up.
• Cumbria Police rebutted viral claims that officers were taking down a Union flag, stating the pictured crew was installing CCTV at a church after vandalism reports and that the flag was not removed.
• Durham Constabulary said it will investigate reported criminal damage on a case‑by‑case basis, as Durham County Council applies a risk‑based approach to unauthorised flags and road paint affecting safety.
• A Workington fundraiser has collected more than £700 to buy flags for west Cumbria, while HOPE not hate warned that some organising figures have far‑right links even as councils back residents’ right to fly flags on private property.