Council workers threatened as they remove flags from lampposts

Council workers threatened as they remove flags from lampposts

In parts of Scotland, council workers have faced threats and intimidation while trying to remove saltire flags from lampposts. Falkirk and Aberdeenshire councils have reported incidents of staff being subjected to aggression, leading them to involve the police in response to the situation. These flags were initially raised across various towns and cities in Scotland following a social media campaign organized by a group that staged an anti-asylum seeker protest. The councils cited safety concerns and the lack of permission as reasons for taking down the flags.

Aberdeen City Council has also joined in removing the flags, confirming their participation in the effort. One of the Facebook pages responsible for the flag campaign, Save Our Future and Our Kids Future, expressed their dismay at the council’s actions and announced their intentions to raise funds to purchase more flags. The flags had been taken down by Falkirk Council for safety reasons, with reports of intimidating behavior towards council employees hindering the removal process. The council has vowed to collaborate with Police Scotland to address those responsible.

Aberdeenshire Council disclosed an increase in the presence of flags on streetlights and instances of flags being painted on roads. Regrettably, there has also been a surge in threats towards staff assigned to remove the flags, prompting the council to seek police intervention. The placement of items on street lights or damaging roads is not permitted, according to council guidelines. Any unauthorized installations will be taken down and transferred to the local police station for collection by the owners. Moreover, videos circulating on social media depict individuals ascending lampposts with ladders to cut down flags erected in Maryhill, Glasgow.

The upsurge of saltire flags being displayed in Scotland mirrors similar occurrences in England, where union jacks and St George’s flags have been hung on lampposts and painted on traffic islands. Social media groups like the Midlands-based Weoley Warriors have been advocating for such displays, describing themselves as proud Englishmen aiming to showcase their history, freedoms, and achievements. Fundraising campaigns have been initiated to finance flags, poles, and cable ties. In some areas, the sudden appearance of flags coincides with a politically charged environment in the UK concerning national identity and belonging. Notably, protests have taken place outside hotels housing asylum seekers, with flags prominently featured on placards

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More