Overview

• York has begun taking down flags from lampposts, with the council estimating a £250,000 clean‑up and reporting abuse toward workers tasked with removals.
• Brighton and Hove’s leader said unlawful attachments to street furniture will be cleared under the 1980 Highway Act and warned the displays are causing fear and distress.
• BCP Council issued a safety alert after red crosses appeared on roads and public sites, citing unlawful and dangerous markings and noting local incidents including a church defaced and a nearby crossing daubed with “WE ARE FULL.”
• A Reform UK councillor in Lancashire suggested making St George’s crosses on mini‑roundabouts an official policy, while Birmingham Conservatives called for national flags on every high street and public building.
• Responses vary by area, with Kirklees prioritising safety‑based removals, Northumberland exploring community flagpoles, Rickmansworth reporting new overnight installations, and organisers such as Flag Force UK fundraising to replace taken‑down flags.