An urgent call has been made for the council in Sheffield to take ‘urgent action’ over the number of flags still attached to lampposts across the city. Sheffield Communities Against Racism and Fascism (SCARF) has issued an open letter to Sheffield City Council stating that the flags that continue to appear on lampposts across Parson Cross, Southey, and other areas are part of a ‘coordinated campaign of intimidation and anti-immigrant hate.’

The group said that under the Highways Act 1980, it is illegal to place or attach items to a public highway without consent. The letter addressed to the members of Sheffield City Council and Sheffield MPs reads: “We are writing as concerned residents of Sheffield to demand urgent action regarding the flags that continue to appear on lampposts across Parson Cross, Southey, and other areas.

“These flags are part of a coordinated campaign of intimidation and anti-immigrant hate. They are illegal, and allowing them to remain is an abandonment of public space and a toleration of harassment.”

It added: “These flags act as territorial markers. They signal ownership of space and make non-white residents feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own communities. Explicit threats of violence toward residents attempting to remove flags have been reported many times.”

The flags have been linked to a group known as Raise The Colours Sheffield, which has publicly advertised placing flags on lampposts in exchange for donations.

The group has also announced plans for a protest in the city centre on April 4, framing its actions as patriotic and promoting national unity, while others claim the displays are politically motivated and exclusionary.

Raise The Colours Sheffield has announced that it has moved the location of its planned protest “due to recent events.” The group describes the protest as peaceful and said it is a demonstration against the Labour Government, claiming it treats “British people like second-class citizens.”

Sheffield Communities Against Racism and Fascism is urging the council to ‘act immediately.’ It added: “Every day that flags remain is another day residents are threatened and excluded from their communities.”

SCARF is demanding that the council provide a clear and immediate timeline for the removal of all flags associated with Operation Raise the Colours.

It is also urging for the council to commit to continuous monitoring of public areas so that any new flags are removed promptly and demands that the council investigate and hold accountable the individuals responsible for erecting these flags and the individuals responsible for harrassing and assaulting members of the public who challenge them, using all available legal measures including fines under the Highways Act and local bylaws.

Despite internal discussion, the council has reportedly refused to instruct its contractor, Amey, to remove the flags, citing staff safety concerns, according to SCARF.

They argued that this is ‘unacceptable’, highlighting that during previous initiatives, such as the Streets Ahead tree-felling programme, contractors received full police support to continue despite protests. If security can be provided to cut down trees in an unpopular programme, the same can and must be provided to protect residents from intimidation and harassment, the group said.

In December 2025, it was reported by the BBC that Amey workers taking down flags from lamp-posts in Sheffield had been subjected to “shocking” levels of abuse. A senior manager described being confronted with “shocking” levels of aggression, including from children, and had to accompany teams herself to ensure their safety.

Sheffield City Council told the Express in a statement: “Sheffield City Council wholeheartedly condemns acts of violence and harassment, and would always encourage members of the public to report these to the police through the usual channels

“We are focusing our resources on removing flags that have been modified with slogans or wording, those that have been graffiti-ed, and those that present a safety hazard

“Other flags attached to public infrastructure will be removed as part of routine maintenance, in line with our existing highways policy.”