Derby City Council has removed almost 1,000 flags from lampposts after calling for an end to the Operation Raise the Colours campaign.
The Labour-run local authority said last September it would begin taking town flags from public spaces and street furniture, allowing residents a week to retrieve any they were responsible for.
Councillor Sarah Chambers said in a statement at the time that it “fully” supported people who wished to fly flags on their own properties, but it was “time to this campaign of flag flying to an end” to make way for “seasonal events”.
Thousands of St George and Union Jack flags sprung up in towns and cities across the country in 2025 as online movement Operation Raise the Colours gathered pace.
The council confirmed it has so far removed around 950 “unauthorised” flags.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “As part of our statutory responsibility to keep public spaces safe and well-maintained, we are continuing to remove unauthorised flags from lampposts.
“To date, approximately 950 flags have been removed.
“The decision to remove flags was clearly communicated before the process began, therefore the council does not intend to carry out an inquiry into this matter.
Derby City Council said it has removed around 950 ‘unauthorised’ flags (file photo)
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PA
“Our priority remains the safety and upkeep of our public spaces.”
Speaking to GB News following the council’s announcement of its plans to remove the flags, one resident said: “It’s unpatriotic.
“It is the St George’s flag. It is for the country, it is what our forefathers fought and died for. It’s not offensive.
“Other flags can be flown. I don’t see why they should do it.”
Thousands of flags sprung up across the country last year as the Operation Raise the Colours campaign gathered pace
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PA
Another resident added: “It’s a good thing that we’ve all gone around and put these flags up.
“I think it brings people together. I don’t think there’s many people that object to it, just the minority, I think.
“But if that’s what they think they’ve got to do, then I’m sure they’ll just crack on and do it, whatever we think.”
Derby City Council previously said it had appointed “third-party security” to ensure the “safety” of staff who were taking down the flags.
The security guards were hired in late November following “multiple incidents of threatening behaviour” towards street lighting contractors.
“The council absolutely condemns this behaviour and believes that people have a right to carry out their roles safely and without fear,” a council statement read.
According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to the local authority, the security staff had cost £1,400 as of December 17, 2025.