{"id":2586672,"date":"2026-04-02T17:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-police-arrest-anti-immigration-activist-for-putting-union-jack-flags-up\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T17:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:40:25","slug":"uk-police-arrest-anti-immigration-activist-for-putting-union-jack-flags-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-police-arrest-anti-immigration-activist-for-putting-union-jack-flags-up\/","title":{"rendered":"UK police arrest anti-immigration activist for putting Union Jack flags up"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fuk-police-arrest-anti-immigration-activist-for-putting-union-jack-flags-up%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2586672&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Ryan Bridge, founder of Raise the Colours, a UK-based group that displays Union Jacks and St. George\u2019s flags in public spaces to oppose immigration, was arrested in Oxfordshire on suspicion of racially and religiously aggravated harassment for continuing to place flags despite a local council order. Oxfordshire County Council warned the group to stop and said it would consider civil and criminal actions if the behavior continued. Raise the Colours describes itself as a grassroots movement for unity and patriotism, but the group has faced scrutiny for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clinton-judge-releases-boy-5-and-his-father-from-ice-detention-makes-mistake-so-bad-on-order-this-may-be-the-first-time-its-ever-recorded-5\/\" title=\"Clinton Judge Releases Boy, 5, and His Father from ICE Detention, Makes Mi...ake So Bad on Order This May Be the Fir... Time It&#039;s Ever Recorded\">social-media activity<\/a> and vigilante-style actions, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including past bans<\/a> in France after confrontations with migrants. Bridge,released on bail,posted a video calling the situation a sign that \u201cthe world has gone mad\u201d and urged supporters to press on.The council leader said the flag campaign is intimidation and harmful to communities, while noting that Oxfordshire remains committed to democracy and to welcoming diverse communities. The case has contributed to a national debate in the UK about patriotism, symbolism, and attitudes toward migration, with other related events such as a Birmingham \u201cde-flagging\u201d effort removing hundreds of flags.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">UK police arrest anti-immigration activist for putting Union Jack flags up: &lsquo;Act of intimidation&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2548458\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The leader of a British association was detained this week on allegations of harassment for hanging national flags in public against the local council&rsquo;s orders.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Bridge, the founder of the U.K.-based group Raise the Colours, was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2026\/apr\/02\/uk-flag-raising-group-leader-arrested-alarm-distress-raise-the-colours\">arrested on Tuesday<\/a> by Thames Valley police &ldquo;on suspicion of causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress&rdquo; due to his campaign flying Union Jacks and St. George&rsquo;s flags in Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n<p>The incident followed Oxfordshire City Council issuing a formal statement ordering Bridge and his group to cease &ldquo;their continued placing of flags across Oxfordshire.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;If the group does not comply with the letter, the council will consider all available options to include, but not limited to, civil and criminal proceedings against the organisation and individuals affiliated with it to prevent further unauthorized action,&rdquo; the council warned on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Raise the Colours is a U.K.-based organization known for erecting Union Jacks and St. George flags in public spaces across the country. The group <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/raisethecolours.org.uk\/\">describes itself<\/a> as a &ldquo;grassroots movement for unity and patriotism&rdquo; and voices strong opposition to mass migration into the U.K.<\/p>\n<p>The group has come under scrutiny for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-dems-tapped-soros-funded-operative-to-research-trump-russia-conspiracy\/\" title=\"Senate Dems Tapped Soros-Funded Operative To Research Trump-Russia Conspiracy\">social media activities<\/a> and vigilantism. Ten members of the group were banned from France for shouting down and physically confronting migrants attempting to sail from the north of the country to the U.K.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re not welcome in our country,&rdquo; Bridge warned illegal migrants in a video he posted to social media, calling them &ldquo;potential rapists, murderers, and child abusers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 4,441 illegal migrants <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cgldep231lxo\">arrived in the U.K. <\/a>by small boat across the English Channel between Jan. 1 and Mar. 26.<\/p>\n<p>Raise the Colours <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RTCORGUK\/status\/2039286910930280583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2039286910930280583%7Ctwgr%5E739b39842c3b52a96a7b63ee955bcfa565b1e3f5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D4514237action%3Dedit\">shared videos<\/a> of Bridge&rsquo;s arrest on social media this week, calling Thames Valley Police &ldquo;ought to be ashamed of themselves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Council leader Liz Leffman said Oxfordshire officials &ldquo;proudly fly the Union and St George&rsquo;s flags&rdquo; as &ldquo;visible symbols of democracy and unity,&rdquo; but that Bridge&rsquo;s flag campaign is &ldquo;not a sign of patriotism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities,&rdquo; she asserted. &ldquo;The scale and persistence of this activity is affecting communities across Oxfordshire. We&rsquo;re proud of our diverse communities in Oxfordshire and of being the first county council to be awarded Local Authority of Sanctuary status.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bridge posted a video of himself to Facebook following his release on bail, saying the &ldquo;world has gone mad&rdquo; and urging his followers to &ldquo;march on&rdquo; and &ldquo;fight on.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4513568\/uk-hosts-over-40-countries-summit-reopening-strait-of-hormuz-trump-demand\/\">UK HOSTS SUMMIT ON REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ FOLLOWING TRUMP DEMAND: &lsquo;TAKE CARE OF IT&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The public display of Union Jacks and St. George&rsquo;s flags &mdash; spearheaded by Raise the Colours &mdash; has become the subject of a national debate in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>Over a hundred residents of a Birmingham suburb <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cjrqdev74j9o\">came together<\/a> in February for a &ldquo;de-flagging celebration&rdquo; that took down hundreds of flags hung by Bridge&rsquo;s group on lamp posts and other public spaces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK arrests anti-immigration activist over flag displays<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2586673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP19255442685125.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[62368,7742,3967,51254,77060],"class_list":["post-2586672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anti-immigration","tag-flags","tag-police","tag-uk-2","tag-union-jack"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP19255442685125.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2586672"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586676,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586672\/revisions\/2586676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}