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Raise the Colours founder charged with 14 offences
United Kingdom🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/7/2026

Raise the Colours founder charged with 14 offences

The founder of an activist group called Raise the Colours, Ryan Bridge, has been charged with 14 offenses related to his actions of placing Union Jack and St George's Cross flags on lampposts. The charges include racially aggravated harassment, threatening behavior, and assault. Bridge, 45, has been carrying out these activities in the Midlands and southern England since last summer. Thames Valley Police announced the charges against him, which stem from a two-month period in Oxfordshire earlier this year. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3. The charges include multiple counts of using threatening words or behavior, racially aggravated harassment, and common assault. In July, Oxfordshire County Council obtained a High Court injunction to prevent flag placement near highways due to safety and legal issues, and Birmingham City Council is seeking a similar injunction.

Ryan Bridge, 45, the leader of the group Raise the Colours, has been charged with 14 offences, including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behaviour and common assault. The group, which describes itself as a “grassroots movement for unity and patriotism”, has been erecting Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags on roadsides, lampposts and other public spaces across England since August 2025. The charges relate to incidents reported between 31 January and 31 March 2026 in Oxfordshire. Bridge is scheduled to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 3 November. Bridge co-founded Raise the Colours with the aim of promoting national identity through visible symbols. His activities include placing flags on public property and, according to reports, travelling to Northern France to film small boats in an effort to deter their arrival in the UK. Thames Valley Police confirmed the charges following a review of evidence, including witness statements and video footage. A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for further consideration. Oxfordshire County Council obtained a High Court injunction in July to prohibit the placement of flags near highways, citing safety risks, trespass and obstruction. Birmingham City Council has also sought a similar injunction, with the hearing set for the High Court on Tuesday. The council cited concerns over public space usage and potential disruption. Bridge was present at Reform UK’s annual conference in Birmingham, where he was invited by the party. Attendees were primarily members, with no general admission tickets available. During the event, Nigel Farage acknowledged Bridge’s efforts, stating: “What your campaign has done is wake up vast parts of this country.” Bridge, who was on bail after being arrested earlier this year on suspicion of racially and religiously aggravated harassment, has previously denied any wrongdoing. The charges include 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 provoke unlawful violence, two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, one count of racially aggravated fear of violence, and one count of common assault. The case highlights ongoing tensions between grassroots activism and local authorities over the use of public space.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

BBC News (UK) logoBBC News (UK)State / PublicCenterFactual 99Objective 989/6/2026
Raise the Colours founder charged with 14 offences

The founder of an activist group called Raise the Colours, Ryan Bridge, has been charged with 14 offenses related to his actions of placing Union Jack and St George's Cross flags on lampposts. The charges include racially aggravated harassment, threatening behavior, and assault. Bridge, 45, has been carrying out these activities in the Midlands and southern England since last summer. Thames Valley Police announced the charges against him, which stem from a two-month period in Oxfordshire earlier this year. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3. The charges include multiple counts of using threatening words or behavior, racially aggravated harassment, and common assault. In July, Oxfordshire County Council obtained a High Court injunction to prevent flag placement near highways due to safety and legal issues, and Birmingham City Council is seeking a similar injunction.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the charges against Ryan Bridge without overtly favoring any political stance. It reports on the legal actions taken by authorities and the background of the activist group's activities, maintaining a balanced tone. There is no clear ideological leaning

Why factuality (99): This article provides precise details about the charges, the timeframe, and the legal actions taken by local councils. It accurately represents the situation without adding speculative or unverified information. The content matches closely with the cross-source consensus.

Why objectivity (98): The article maintains a highly neutral tone, presenting the facts without editorializing or showing favoritism. It avoids any emotionally charged language and sticks strictly to the reported events and statements from authorities.

The Guardian (UK) logoThe Guardian (UK)IndependentCenterFactual 98Objective 979/7/2026
Leader of group behind flag campaign in England charged with 14 offences

The leader of the group 'Raise the Colours,' Ryan Bridge, has been charged with 14 offenses, including racially aggravated harassment, threatening behavior, and assault. The group, which promotes itself as a grassroots movement for unity and patriotism, has been placing Union Jack and St George's flags on public spaces across England since August 2023. Thames Valley Police filed charges based on evidence collected over a two-month period in Oxfordshire, and Bridge is set to appear in court in November. Oxfordshire County Council obtained an injunction to stop the placement of flags on public property, citing safety and legal concerns. Birmingham City Council is also pursuing a similar injunction. Bridge recently attended a Reform UK conference, where Nigel Farage praised the group's activities. Bridge remains on bail and denies any wrongdoing.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the charges brought against Ryan Bridge and provides context regarding the actions of his group, 'Raise the Colours.' It includes quotes from both Bridge and Nigel Farage, offering perspectives from different sides of the issue. The article does not use

Why factuality (98): The article accurately reports Ryan Bridge being charged with 14 offences, including specific details like the time frame (two months in Oxfordshire) and the nature of the charges. It cites Thames Valley Police and mentions the legal actions taken by Oxfordshire and Birmingham councils. All key fact

Why objectivity (97): The article presents the information neutrally, avoiding overtly emotional language or bias. It quotes authorities and provides context without taking sides, maintaining a balanced tone throughout.

The Independent logoThe IndependentIndependentCenterFactual 96Objective 949/6/2026
Activist behind flag raising campaign charged with 14 offences

Ryan Bridge, the founder of the 'Raise the Colours' flag campaign group, has been charged with 14 offenses related to alleged incidents between January and March 2026 in Oxfordshire. The charges include racially aggravated harassment, threatening behavior, and common assault. Bridge, who is associated with Reform UK, was present at their annual conference where leader Nigel Farage expressed support for his efforts. Bridge has also been involved in activities aimed at preventing small boats from reaching the UK by filming them in Northern France.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the legal charges against Ryan Bridge without overtly endorsing or criticizing his actions or affiliations. It includes quotes from Nigel Farage but does not frame them as endorsements or criticisms. The focus remains on the legal proceedings ratherthan

Why factuality (96): The article correctly identifies Ryan Bridge as the founder of Raise the Colours and outlines the charges against him. It includes relevant details such as the time frame of the alleged offenses and mentions Reform UK's involvement. However, it adds some contextual elements not present in other sour

Why objectivity (94): While mostly neutral, the inclusion of Nigel Farage's quote introduces a slight leaning toward the political perspective of Reform UK. This does not strongly influence the overall neutrality but shows a minor deviation from pure objectivity.

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