RAISE THE COLOURS FOUNDER CHARGED WITH 14 OFFENCES

Ryan Bridge, founder of the Raise the Colours flag campaign group, has been charged with fourteen offences including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour and common assault. Thames Valley Police said the charges relate to incidents in Oxfordshire between 31 January and 31 March 2026. Bridge, 45, of Blackwell, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, is due to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on 3 November. The charges comprise seven counts of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress; three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke unlawful violence; two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress; one count of racially aggravated fear of violence; and one count of common assault.

Bridge has erected Union Jack and St George's Cross flags on lampposts across the Midlands and southern England since last summer as part of Raise the Colours. The campaign has placed hundreds of flags across England. Bridge also travelled to northern France to film small boats in an attempt to prevent them reaching the UK, according to reports. In July, Oxfordshire County Council obtained a High Court injunction to stop people placing flags near highways, citing safety concerns, trespass and obstruction. Birmingham City Council has applied for a similar injunction, with a hearing scheduled at the High Court on Tuesday.

Bridge attended Reform UK's annual conference this week. Nigel Farage, Reform UK's leader, paid tribute to the flag campaign and Bridge from the stage, stating: "If we can help you legally, we will". The charges follow months of flag-placing activity across England, and precede legal proceedings in multiple local authorities over the placement of flags on public infrastructure.