England Flag Illegal?

[AJRTDDI]

There as been alot of cases of cars with england/union jack flag's being stopped by police and handing out spot fines recently.

Is this a new law or will it be dropped in court ?

I have a england sticker on my rear windows. (4 inchs square) ?

[TomsFocus]

Whats the offence? If its blocking drivers view or likely to cause harm in an accident then fair enough, but I don't see why the flag it self is an issue?

[AJRTDDI]

Not in drivers view. Most of cases police have said it was because its offence to others. A taxi driver is also at risk of losing her taxi permit because she as a england sticker beside her door handle.

[AJRTDDI]

I live in a heavy seek and muslim areas. With 3 temples near by. Im not racist but i just concerned by amount of attention its getting in media

[Turvey]

Pretty poor show if you can't show your own countries flag in your own country! Just saying.

[Philf1]

Are you sure it's not ones that have it on the numbers plate instead of the GB and stars emblem

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[TomsFocus]

Not in drivers view. Most of cases police have said it was because its offence to others. A taxi driver is also at risk of losing her taxi permit because she as a england sticker beside her door handle.

Crikey. Seems a bit extreme, if someone from another country choses to live here, I don't see why the flag should offend them! :s

[AJRTDDI]

Idk how they can enforce this law. Anyone know if they can ? I know 3 cases who got 30 pound fine.

[AdeMk1]

Seems a bit petty to be honest,maybe Clive can shed some light on what the offence may be?

[laumk7]

The stupid little window/ roof flags I can understand to some degree why they would be stopped, regardless of what flag it is, especially when they take those at motorway speeds 8)

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[Philf1]

So what about those sporting free Lebanon flags?

It's coming to something when English people can't support their own country!

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[AJRTDDI]

I can understand the little flags that u put on windows. Because there alittle unsafe at speed. But i dont think u should be fined for them anyways. A warning at best.

[SeanW]

The law regarding FLYING flags isn't all that restrictive for the average man on the street. This is the "Plain English Guide" produced by the government: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/15438/flying_flags_guide.pdf

Can you provide any (verifiable) examples of people receiving fines for displaying them?

I can only think of one reason that people would be done for it. That's if the flags were being deliberately used to offend.

(Also, the Union Flag in the back of your car is upside down)

[AJRTDDI]

I didnt put flag there. Was there when i brought it :) it currently as no floor or engine lol (i meaned on my focus)

Its been posted on facebook and other sites. It seems to been happening awhile. A quick google search as found stuff back in 2008 http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/45503/Police-told-man-to-hide-racist-St-George-flag

[AJRTDDI]

Again treat was 30 pound on spot fine or ofcourse remove it.

[Ianb]

Again treat was 30 pound on spot fine or ofcourse remove it.

As an extreme antagonist I would like to know more...

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[Stoney871]

We've had local housing association tenants ordered to remove England flags from balconies and windows.

I agree with displaying pride in my country and personally have an Union flag outside my house.

The problem stems from nationalist groups co-opting flags as a form of propaganda and actively setting out to antagonise minority residents.

It is not illegal to display a British or regional flags on numberplates.

Unfortinately the PC brigade like to class things as offensive before anyone is even offended.

I was in America on 9/11 (actually I was flying out of Newark airport as the planes headed for New York and the pentagon) and in the following months every house, car and person had the stars and stripes on it (and pretty much still do), I'd like to see the PC brigade try and make them take them down.

[SeanW]

That is a story from 2008 - the guide I linked to was 2012. This would imply things have changed somewhat.

However, my personal favourite line from the article: "...could not confirm details of the incident as it had not been logged..."

Seems a little...odd? Perhaps Clive could offer insight as to how the process works regarding logging things like on the spot fines?

(Side note: chap in the article drives a Corsa...IMO, that's criminal enough and the Officers should have had it crushed in front of him!!)

[Ianb]

As much as I have a fond respect of HM Armed Forces, Police force, emergency services etc I would certainly do everything in my power to take the pee eye double ess if an officer was to try and fine me for something like that... I'd bring on the court cases etc!

I suppose one could always keep an IS flag sticker in your pocket and tell an officer that the Union Jack flag is ok because you'll cover it up with the IS sticker, I'm sure the PC brigade certainly find it much less provocative.

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[AJRTDDI]

Stoney you sure its not illegal to have a flag on your numberplate.

I fitted a pair of new plates on my escort (removed black ones) they had flags on the edge (normal place with black boarder) was told they was illegal. That only gray/white and black colours was allowed. (Gray and white are fake 3d effect)

[Figgis41]

firstly i would not believe anything i read on facebook,,, some facebook pages and sites have their own agenda's and sturing up this kind of thing is one of them.
In the link you have posted its chummys word against who's,, the cops say they have no record if any such encounter, so you then need to look at how and why its in a paper maybe ?

News papers also like to stur it a little,, and also tend to be a bit frugal with facts,, they dont let em get in the way of a good story lets say, after all they can always say "sources said" and if all else fails they say sorry hidden in the add's somewhere.

If the case from 2008 is true i would have invited the £30 fine while filming the cop doing it, on any fines given they have to state what its for,

"Carrying an England flag on the parcel shelf"

and you contest it and go to court would look rather amusing to the chief constable, as the whole of the UK's press corp decend on his little empire, and he see's his/her career disapering over the horizon.

[salsheikh]

Being Muslim and living in this country (born in the UK) I have no issues to it at all and display it when England are playing footy - even though we sadly have nothing to cheer about.

I think its wrong to be fined for displaying it unless it is used for wrong purposes (propaganda/racism etc).

[AJRTDDI]

I agree. Socal media and newspaper do talk rubish most of time. But where else can we get our info??? .. lol

[Ianb]

I was tempted to challenge it's authenticity but then there's nothing quite like a paper full of bullshit to get the old blood pumping!

I think as most have now stated, it's stories like these that are designed by perhaps racist 'English folk' in order to really rile up other English folk against injustice...

Some of those that have been wronged would agree to capital punishment.. Other people have never been wronged, but just enjoy a good hanging..

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[AJRTDDI]

Yea i agree to a extent. Same thing with that family was asked to get off a bus for playing peppa pig song to there daughter because of racism and the young girl who was sentenced too a year in jail for putting bacon on a muslim temple door handle. I think there a little over the top to be honest.