A Green Council is mulling a ban on Union Flags being flown from lampposts that could see rule breakers face up to two years in prison. 

Bristol City Council is reportedly planning to outlaw residents hanging flags from lampposts as they ‘can be a source of concern or division’.

Those found to have flouted the rules could be jailed for up to two years or an unlimited fine. 

According to deputy leader Heather Mack, hanging flags from lampposts also creates ‘potential health and safety concerns’ and the council is ‘reviewing the approaches being taken by other local authorities’. 

Last month it was reported that Birmingham City Council is also planning to remove Union and St George’s flags from lampposts ‘to protect public safety’ – despite being ‘too scared’ to take down Palestine flags without police protection.

The council – run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and independents – has launched legal action to ban the flags.

If granted an injunction, anyone who erects flags such as St George’s Cross near roads without Birmingham Council’s permission could face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

It comes after Oxfordshire County Council won a High Court injunction banning people from hanging flags from lampposts as workers live ‘in fear’ of intimidation for taking them down.

Bristol City Council is mulling a ban on flying Union flags from lampposts (File image)

Oxfordshire County Council made a bid to ban flags from being raised on or near public highways, like the ones seen here attached to lampposts in Birmingham

According to the BBC, Bristol City Council has already spent £50,000 on tackling rogue flags and Ms Mack said the local authority is currently working to remove ‘flags and other unauthorised items… from council-owned infrastructure’.

She told The Telegraph: ‘We recognise that flags can mean different things to different people. For many residents, they are an expression of national identity, culture, heritage or community pride.

‘For others, their presence in public spaces can be a source of concern or division. What is clear is that flags, banners and other items should not be attached to lamp posts, railings or other council-owned infrastructure.

‘As well as creating potential health and safety concerns, this is not an appropriate use of public property. Flags and other unauthorised items are being removed from council-owned infrastructure across the city.’

Ms Mack added that the Green-led authority is also ‘exploring further options around enforcement’ while reviewing what similar measures other councils have taken. 

The Daily Mail has approached Bristol City Council for comment. 

Since last year’s Operation Raise the Colours campaign, Union and St George’s flags have appeared on lampposts and road barriers across the country.

Some councils moved to take down the flags and paint over some roundabouts which saw flag designs painted across them.

Oxfordshire County Council applied for the injunction banning flags from being flown from lampposts as workers live ‘in fear’ of intimidation for taking them down.

Maintenance staff at Oxfordshire County Council have been told to wear face coverings and check their vehicles for trackers when removing the flags after a colleague’s home address was published by campaigners.

The local authority, which was previously run by the Liberal Democrats but now has no overall control, had brought legal action to stop people raising flags near highways, which it said involved safety risks, as well as trespass and obstruction.

The widespread flying of Union and St George’s Cross flags, following an online campaign called Operation Raise the Colours, has become contentious and several councils have removed them from public infrastructure.

While some politicians decried the removals, others claimed the increased number being flown was a result of xenophobia or racism.

Oxfordshire County Council said flags had been placed on or near public roads without permission for months, despite a formal legal notice in March and pre-action legal letters sent to individuals in May.

In a judgment, Mr Justice Dexter Dias made an injunction ordering unknown people not to attach flags to highway structures or paint them on roads in Oxfordshire.

Breach of the injunction can lead to seizures of assets, unlimited fines or imprisonment.

The judge said workers have faced abuse or intimidation while taking flags down, as have residents.

This aerial photo shows two roundabouts in Walsall, West Midlands, painted with St George’s Crosses. Similar ones in Oxfordshire have been painted over by the council

Birmingham City Council first sparked outrage in August last year by ordering the removal of British flags from lampposts 

Maintenance teams have been ‘working in fear’, are told to wear face coverings and have had to check vehicles for tracking tags after a worker’s home address was published, he said.

Tim Bearder, the leader of the council, said: ‘We proudly fly the Union Flag and St George’s flag at County Hall and we fully support the right of residents to display flags on their own private property.

‘However, there’s an important distinction between lawful expression and activity that puts people at risk or intimidates residents in their own communities.

‘This activity is not about national pride or unity. It is unlawful behaviour, which has caused fear and division within our communities.’

Also last month, Birmingham City Council said it was pursuing legal action to stop people raising the flags ‘to protect public safety’ after staff tasked with removing them also faced harassment and intimidation.

Jane Baston, a Green councillor and Birmingham’s cabinet member for equalities, communities and social justice, said: ‘The council is taking a lawful, proportionate and evidence-led approach to unauthorised attachments on the highway.

‘This includes pursuing injunctive action based on the evidence gathered to date. Our priority is to protect public safety, staff and contractor welfare, community cohesion and the responsible use of public funds.

‘We ask residents and community groups to support this approach and to ensure any displays are placed only where permission exists.’

Birmingham City Council first provoked outrage in August last year by ordering the removal of British flags from lampposts – while being ‘too scared’ to take down Palestine flags without police protection.

At the time, they claimed the flags put the lives of pedestrians and motorists ‘at risk’ despite being as much as 25ft off the ground.

The flags had been strung up by a small, organised group of residents to ‘show Birmingham and the rest of the country how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements’.

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