"As a council, we fully support positive patriotic behaviour and flag use and we are proud to fly the St George’s Flag and the Union Jack on our public buildings, especially during big sporting events and national celebrations. These flags are an important symbol of pride and unity for our community. We believe that feeling proud of one's country – and demonstrating that pride through civic engagement, helping others, inclusivity, and upholding democratic institutions – are all positive actions that we encourage.
"But we do not support the behaviour of those who have used flags to intimidate or vandalise, or who have put up flags without permission or where they may impact the safety of our residents.
"Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for the roads and lampposts in the district. It has set out its position to remove any items attached to lampposts and other street fixtures without permission. These will be removed by its teams as part of their routine work. Any symbols or slogans that are clearly offensive, or that could confuse road users and put people’s safety at risk, will be taken down as soon as possible. You can report concerns directly to the council here.
"Flyposting or graffiti on East Herts Council property will be handled in the same way. We look at all reports carefully and will take action in line with our existing policies. More information is available on our website.
“We know this issue has caused different opinions in our communities, and we hope we can move forward together – with our flags as a symbol of pride and unity for everyone in the community.”
