English councils consider jail terms for unauthorised St George flag displays

Councils across England are moving to criminalise the unauthorised hanging of St George flags on public infrastructure. Bristol City Council, which has already incurred roughly £50,000 in removal expenses, is considering a High Court injunction that could lead to imprisonment, fines or asset seizure for violators. Birmingham City Council has similarly pursued an interim injunction, with filings indicating possible costs of up to £2.6 million.

Somerset Council disclosed spending of more than £2,900 in a year and plans to recover removal costs from offenders. South Gloucestershire Council labelled unauthorised flags a "serious matter" and highlighted safety concerns, while Wiltshire Council prefers handling incidents individually. Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Williams called the cycle of removal and re-erection a frustrating cat-and-mouse game and warned that attaching flags to lamp-posts poses risks to road users.