Surrey County Council has removed 1,003 St George's and Union flags from its infrastructure, with approximately 308 flags estimated to remain attached. The council removes flags that present an immediate safety risk and addresses others during routine highway maintenance. Unauthorized flags attached to lampposts must be approved by Surrey County Council, and unauthorized ones can pose risks to drivers and pedestrians.
Shropshire Council will remove all unauthorized flags from street lighting columns and other highway assets, starting in Shrewsbury and expanding across the county. The council's flag removal operation costs £13,000. Shropshire Council supports residents expressing British patriotism and recognizes the flag as a national emblem, but putting up flags could be a criminal offense, with those responsible pursued for removal costs.
The council is aware of community tensions, including reports of abuse directed at residents, councillors, and staff, and is working with West Mercia Police. Flags across Shropshire have become torn, loose, or insecure since Storm Dave. Shropshire Council removed flags in October last year after they became unsightly following Storm Amy.
It is clear that Surrey County Council's current policy is not working. Instead, the continued presence of these flags, and failure to remove them from the public highway, implies consent and gives tacit legitimacy to their intimidating presence.
The council is setting up a funding bid to create a positive alternative, including a locally-designed flag involving young people. A GoFundMe campaign by Raise The Flags Shrewsbury Plus has raised over £6,000 to stop flags from being torn down. There have been allegations that men erecting flags in Church Stretton threatened several women who confronted them.
Local flag activist John Cunningham rejected allegations of threatening behavior during flag installation. Green Party councillor Jonathan Essex claims the flags are intimidating and that Surrey County Council's policy is not working. Some councils brand the flag-flying as intimidating and divisive rather than patriotic.
The flag-flying movement started last year with Operation Raise the Colours, an online campaign advocating displaying Union and St George's Cross flags in public places. Supporters of the flag movement say putting up flags is patriotic, while critics accuse them of sowing division amid heightened tensions over immigration.