High Court confirms flag judgement

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.

Three of four named defendants gave an undertaking at court not to place flags in Oxfordshire, not to encourage others to do it or abuse council workers and contractors from taking them down during a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on 23 June 2026.

A further hearing today (9 July) confirmed the injunction as permanent and relates to any individual and Kevin Good, a named defendant who failed to sign an undertaking. The injunction will last for one year, with the option to extend further.

The injunction means it is a contempt of court for any person notified of the order knowingly to assist in or permit a breach of the order. Any person doing so may be sent to prison, fined or have their assets seized.

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 council issued multiple warnings to the named defendants prior to seeking injunctive proceedings. Accordingly, the council will be seeking its costs in bringing the claim. The council is reviewing legal costs and the court will determine this issue at a later date. 

The application aimed to stop repeated interference with the highway and the council’s legal duties as highway authority. It relates to a series of incidents involving named individuals associated with the organisation known as Raise the Colours.

This includes the unauthorised placement of flags on highway infrastructure, amounting to a criminal offence. It also includes trespass, obstruction of the highway, and incidents where council teams, contractors and residents have faced confrontation or harassment when items are removed.

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.

For more please refer to our original statement from 23 June.

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