Overview

• Operation Raise the Colours is driving widespread flag displays and illegal St George’s crosses on roundabouts, crossings and signs in towns including Colchester, Reading, Bristol, Abingdon and Walsall.
• Local authorities are stripping unauthorised flags from street furniture and repainting highways assets under safety and Highways Act duties, warning the repair bill will fall on taxpayers.
• Police are treating painted road markings and signs as criminal damage, with North Wales Police making enquiries in Llandudno and West Midlands Police aware of incidents in Walsall.
• Reading Borough Council began removing graffiti near the Al Majid Centre, while Wiltshire Council and others said some markings will require full repainting where safety is affected.
• Public reaction remains polarised, as some residents and councillors hail the displays as patriotic, while HOPE not hate links organisers to far‑right figures and councils urge people to fly flags only on private property.