Injunction over unauthorised placement of flags on highways made permanent

A High Court injunction preventing the unauthorised placement of flags on highway infrastructure secured by Oxfordshire County Council has been made permanent.

Last month, the council brought legal action against a group of four named individuals in an attempt to stop people raising flags near highways - which it said had created road safety and public safety risks.

Flags have been tied to lampposts and other street furniture across England since August 2025, with campaign group ‘Raise the Colours’ encouraging supporters to display them on public infrastructure.

The injunction covers the unauthorised placement of flags on highway infrastructure and follows allegations of trespass, obstruction of the highway, and incidents in which council staff, contractors and residents were subjected to confrontation or harassment while removing flags.

After the injunction was granted in June, a further hearing this week (9 July) extended it for a year, with the option to extend further.

Oxfordshire County Council said: “The High Court has awarded a permanent injunction in favour of Oxfordshire County Council to prevent the continued unauthorised placement of flags on or near the public highway.

“The council will monitor the situation closely and seek robust action against any individual or group that breach the order, including seeking costs in bringing any claims.

“[…] The injunction does not relate to people who wish to fly flags on their own private property. Oxfordshire County Council proudly flies the Union Flag and St George’s flag at County Hall and fully supports the right of residents to display their own flags.”

Lottie Winson