Police take down flags defaced with swastikas

A number of flags have been placed across Kettering

Two flags defaced with swastikas have been taken down by police.

The St George's and Union flags, erected by the group Flags for Kettering, were removed by officers from the Northamptonshire force.

It said it took the decision "due to the offensive nature of the defacements".

Flags for Kettering said: "We want to make it absolutely clear that this has nothing to do with us, and we strongly condemn this act."

The defaced flags were discovered in Meadow Road and Northfield Avenue, as first reported by Northamptonshire Telegraph.

St George's and Union flags have been increasingly found lining streets across England.

A spokesperson for Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council said: "We are aware of a small number of incidents of flags being graffitied and worked with the police, who removed these flags.

It said on the erection of flags that it welcomed "the sense of national pride presented by some residents".

It said it would remove any where there was "an immediate health and safety risk".

"For residents' own safety and to avoid any damage to lamp-posts, we actively discourage members of the public from attaching or removing items to or from lamp-posts.

"Given the risks involved, we would ask the members of the public, do not take any action to remove items yourself."

Flags for Kettering said it had noticed that "some of our flags have been defaced with swastikas" but the symbols were "not placed there by us".

Police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.