A Liberal Democrat-run council has won a High Court injunction banning campaigners from hanging St George's Cross and Union flags from lampposts and painting patriotic symbols on roads across Oxfordshire, England, with anyone breaching the order now facing the prospect of imprisonment, unlimited fines, or asset seizures.
The injunction, granted Friday by Mr Justice Dexter Dias, follows months of legal action by Oxfordshire County Council against activists involved in "Operation Raise The Colours," a campaign that has seen England and Union flags repeatedly attached to public highway infrastructure since August 2025. The council argued the displays created highway safety risks, constituted trespass, and obstructed workers tasked with removing them. The injunction applies to both identified activists and "persons unknown," allowing authorities to pursue anyone who continues attaching flags to lampposts or painting patriotic imagery on public roads.
According to the judgment, council workers repeatedly removed the flags only to find replacements appearing shortly afterward. The judge wrote there was "little prospect absent an injunction that it will stop." GB News reported that court documents described active confrontations between activists and council employees. Mr Justice Dias said workers responsible for removing the flags faced intimidation and abuse, with some instructed to conceal their identities using face coverings while carrying out removals. One employee reportedly had their home address published, prompting staff to inspect their vehicles for tracking devices.
The council said it has spent approximately £80,000 removing the flags, alongside roughly £40,000 in legal costs, which it intends to recover. Council leader Tim Bearder welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory against what he described as unlawful activity. "This is a welcome judgement. We're very pleased with the result," Bearder said. He argued the activists were "very challenging people, not patriots," adding that he hoped the decision would deter similar campaigns elsewhere in Britain. The council stressed the injunction does not prevent residents from flying England or Union flags on private property, nor does it stop the authority itself from displaying the flags at County Hall. Instead, the order is limited to attaching flags to public highway infrastructure and painting flag imagery on roads.
The ruling comes after months of debate surrounding "Operation Raise The Colours," which supporters viewed as a patriotic campaign celebrating England's national symbols, while council officials argued the repeated displays created safety risks and diverted significant public resources. If upheld and enforced, the injunction gives authorities sweeping powers to pursue future breaches, with penalties including imprisonment, asset confiscation, and unlimited financial sanctions.
