A council is doing a sweep of an East London borough to take down England flags which are being flown “without permission” after a number of St George’s flags were placed on lampposts near a hotel in Canary Wharf that has been used to house asylum seekers. Tower Hamlets Council has taken the decision to remove flags “as soon as possible” put up on “council-owned infrastructure without permission.”
Flags have been raised as part of a patriotism campaign dubbed “Operation Raise the Colours” which has gained increasing attention online, as reported by the Express. A Tower Hamlets Council spokesman said: “We are aware members of the public have been putting up St George’s flags on various structures.
“While we recognise people wish to express their views, we have a responsibility to monitor and maintain council infrastructure. Where flags are attached to council-owned infrastructure without permission, they may be removed as part of routine maintenance.”
On Sunday (August 17), there were protests outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, which is in the borough of Tower Hamlets, with police making six arrests. Protesters set off pink flares and waved England flags.
Some demonstrators carried a banner that said: “We’re not far right but we’re not far wrong. Don’t gamble with our lives. Stop the boats.”
The Metropolitan Police said six arrests were made for breaching Section 14 Public Order conditions, possession of Class B drugs, and assaulting an emergency worker.
In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said: “We have imposed conditions using Section 14 of the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption at the protests in Canary Wharf. The group protesting against the use of the hotel by asylum seekers have been instructed to remain on the pavement opposite the Britannia Hotel.”
St George’s flags and Union flags have been put up on streets across the UK as part of Operation Raise the Colours, including Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich and Epping in Essex where there have been a series of high-profile protests over migrant hotels.
Last week, Birmingham Council ordered the removal of hundreds of flags from lampposts in the city, claiming they put pedestrians and motorists “at risk”. However, Union and St George’s flags have been seen back on lampposts in the city to protest against the council’s decision to take them down.
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