Police investigate St George flags on roundabouts

People have painted red crosses on roundabouts in Worcestershire after similar activity in Birmingham

A police investigation has been launched into criminal damage after roundabouts were painted with the St George's flag.

West Mercia Police said it was investigating incidents in Bromsgrove, while West Midlands Police said it was aware of roundabouts being painted in south Birmingham and was carrying out inquiries.

Thousands of flags have now been tied to lampposts in parts of Birmingham and Worcestershire, with residents divided over whether they simply reflect patriotism or there is an uncomfortable message behind them.

Reform-run Worcestershire County Council said flags could remain on lampposts but councillor Karl Perks described the "illegal painting of red crosses" as "acts of vandalism".

While many St George's flags have appeared on lampposts across Worcestershire and Birmingham, the red crosses on roundabouts first appeared in the city last weekend.

Their appearance came after Birmingham City Council said flags on lampposts would be removed as they were a safety hazard.

'Costing taxpayers money'

Now similar St George flags have been painted on Bromsgrove roundabouts, a practice that has been supported by some residents, Perks pointed out that as well as being illegal it was "costing taxpayers money".

"As the cabinet member for highways for Worcestershire County Council, I will be seeking criminal damages so that every other taxpayer in the county does not pay for this," he said.

The West Mercia force confirmed it was investigating the daubing of roundabouts in Bromsgrove.

The flags being painted on roundabouts first appeared on Monday in the Kings Heath and Yardley Wood areas of Birmingham.

"We're aware of criminal damage having occurred and we're carrying out further inquiries," West Midlands Police said.

Resident Tom Conway said he believed he had put up around 400 flags in Worcester

Birmingham City Council said: "Painting the flag of St George on road islands, while expressing national pride, is unlawful and potentially dangerous for the person painting the flag and for motorists."

On Monday, a video of a man painting a red cross on to a mini roundabout in Bromsgrove circulated on social media.

In the video, a police car is seen pulling up to the man for a few seconds before driving off.

"Painting roundabouts is not only dangerous to drivers and pedestrians, but it also amounts to criminal damage," Insp Richard Field, from the West Mercia force, said.

"We are working closely with partners, including Worcestershire County Council, to tackle this issue and investigate where appropriate."

Bradley Thomas, MP for Bromsgrove, said he "does not advocate" for flags to be placed on public property, but encouraged more to be put on private cars and land.

He encouraged the public to take back ownership of the flag, adding that "patriotism does not mean extremism and nationalism".

Police and councillors have warned that daubing the mini-roundabouts with the red cross poses a danger to drivers and pedestrians

In Worcester, landscape gardener Tom Conway told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester he believed he had put up about 400 flags in the city.

"The morale in the community seemed low and, ever since we did it, people have driven past and shown nothing but love and happiness," he said.

Mr Conway added he thought the UK should be more like the US, and fly the flag proudly.

On Tuesday, Perks said climbing up lampposts and attaching flags to them "may not be the best thing to do, mostly because it's dangerous and could cause damage".

He suggested people could show their pride by flying the flag in their gardens, on cars, in home windows and on "community buildings where agreed by the whole community".

He said, however, there was no specific plan to take the flags down.

'Heated debate'

In Birmingham, the city council said it had "not removed any England or union flags since the start of August“.

"Prior to that we have not kept an inventory but removed attachments as routine," the authority added.

It previously said that it had so far removed 200 banners and flags due to upgrading streetlights.

Ed Kimberley, a Labour Worcester City councillor for Warndon and Elbury Park, said he had been contacted by residents who disagreed with the flags being put up.

"Is this a positive message of patriotism or is it something more sinister?" he said.

"If it is a message of positivity, then why is the debate heated?"