Council secures injunction to protect communities

A High Court has awarded an injunction to Oxfordshire County Council to prevent the continued unauthorised placement of flags on or near the public highway.

Each named defendant has given an undertaking in the court not to put up flags in Oxfordshire, not to encourage others to do it or abuse people taking them down. The hearing took place at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, 23 June.

The application aimed to stop repeated interference with the highway and the council's legal duties as highway authority. It relates to a series of incidents involving named individuals associated with the organisation known as Raise the Colours.

This includes the unauthorised placement of flags on highway infrastructure, amounting to a criminal offence. It also includes trespass, obstruction of the highway, and incidents where council teams, contractors and residents have faced confrontation or harassment when items are removed.

This activity has created clear road safety and public safety risks and caused distress in local communities.

A civil injunction is a court order that requires an individual or organisation to stop specified activities. If granted, it would prohibit further unauthorised installations on or near the highway and allow the council to take enforcement action if the order is breached.

The application follows months of sustained activity involving the placement of flags on or near the public highway without permission. This has continued despite a formal legal notice in March 2026 requiring it to stop and further pre-action letters sent to named individuals in May 2026.

Residents across Oxfordshire, from Adderbury to Wallingford, have complained to the council about safety risks, intimidation and distress linked to this activity. Council teams have also been subject to abuse and harassment when removing unlawful flags.

The council has a legal duty to keep the highway safe and ensure that public spaces are safe and inclusive. The ongoing scale and persistence of the behaviour by Raise the Colours has created safety risks, caused distress within communities, and led to abuse and intimidation directed at council teams and residents. The council has a duty to act to protect those affected.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "We're pleased with this result. The injunction helps protects our residents and our workforce and supports our responsibility to keep the highway safe.

"This is not, and never has been, about the flag. We proudly fly the Union Flag and St George's flag at County Hall and we fully support the right of residents to display their own flags - including to show their support for the England football team.

"However, the behaviour we've seen from Raise the Colours is nothing to do with national pride or with support for the England team during the World Cup. It's unlawful behaviour, which has put people at risk and caused fear within our communities for almost a year.

"We have a clear responsibility to keep people safe and ensure our public spaces are welcoming for everyone. That's why we've taken this action and why today's decision by the court provides clarity and protects our colleagues and communities."