Overview

• Operation Raise the Colours has spread street‑hung Union and St George’s flags and painted crosses on roads and roundabouts across England.
• A leaked note from an August 27 National Community Tensions/Hate Crime Gold Group meeting said flags and crosses present “narrative challenges” and recorded Tell MAMA’s report of increased anti‑Muslim hatred in recent weeks.
• The meeting involved police forces, the Home Office and Ofcom, with the National Police Advisor for Hate Crime chairing discussions on protests, misinformation and hate incidents.
• The Metropolitan Police said decisions on public flag displays rest with local authorities, adding officers will intervene only where criminal offences occur.
• Councils are taking different approaches: Birmingham has removed some lamppost flags citing safety, while new displays drew mixed resident reactions in places such as Hetton‑le‑Hole.