But an anti-racist group says it sends out the wrong message and the flag campaign aims to creates division amongst communities.
The flags were put up along Westwey Road (A354) next to the harbourside.
A video posted on social media shows a group calling itself ‘Flagman UK’ using ladders to tie the flags to lampposts.
In the video, footage of Weymouth’s seafront can be seen before members of the groups in hi-vis jackets use ladders to put the flags up.
An officer from Dorset Police is seen to stop and speak to the group.
Attaching flags to lampposts or other highway street furniture without the highway authority’s permission is an offence under the Highways Act 1980, and the council can remove unauthorised displays.
Both Dorset Police and Dorset Council have been contacted for comment.
Flagman UK, an anonymous social-media persona, organises and promotes displays of Union flags in towns under the banner of the Raise the Colours campaign through donations and suggestions from the public.
Supporters of the Raise the Colours campaign put up St George’s Crosses, Union flags and, in some areas, other national flags on lampposts, roundabouts and buildings, describing the effort as an expression of patriotism, community pride and national unity.
However the movement is accused of being a cynical attempt by the far-right to promote ideas, inflame tensions and intimidate minority groups including asylum seekers.
READ: Union flags appear on lampposts by Weymouth harbour
Union Jacks have appeared on lampposts along the harbour side on Westway Road in Weymouth. (Image: Dorset Media Services)
The organiser of the group, who refused to be identified told the Echo he was doing it to call for “fairness for everyone”, claiming rough sleepers and veterans are being failed while asylum seekers are housed in hotels.
He denied the campaign was racist and said he wanted to start a conversation about homelessness rather than stop small-boat crossings.
He said: “I stand up for fairness. I have not got anything against people; it is the government and its policies.
“There are people living on the streets, including veterans, while people coming into this country illegally get a hotel and food.
Union Jacks have appeared on lampposts along the harbour side on Westway Road in Weymouth. (Image: Dorset Media Services)
“I am not here to stop the boats. I want to start a conversation about fairness for everyone, not just people coming here on boats.”
He added: “I do not blame them – it is the policies. I would come here too if I was offered a free hotel and meals.
“If Andy Burnham stops homelessness, I will stop putting up flags.”
The organiser said he had received around 3,000 messages from followers asking him to put flags up in Weymouth. He insisted his actions were intended to unite people and were not racist.
Union Jacks have appeared on lampposts along the harbour side on Westway Road in Weymouth. (Image: Dorset Media Services)
He said: “People say I am racist, but I am not. Left-wing people portray us as racist, but the flag is there to unite. You cannot call the flag racist.”
In response to the flags going up, Lynne Hubbard, of Stand Up To Racism Dorset, said no-one wanted to see people homeless, but warned that the Raise the Colours campaign had become associated with hostility towards migrants and refugees.
READ: Stand Up to Racism ‘Unity’ event on Weymouth seafront
“It creates a community where people feel uneasy and threatened,” Lynne said.
“In Dorset, we have people from different parts of the world who work in our services, and we want them to feel welcome.
“Dorset is big-hearted and we do not want to give the message that we are a hostile environment.”
Anti-Racist gathering Weymouth Esplanade. Lynne Hubbard speaking at an anti-racism event on Bank Holiday Monday in Weymouth (Image: Geoff Moore/ Dorset Media Services)
Lynne added that it was “easy to blame people who have nothing”, but said people seeking asylum should not be blamed for the homelessness crisis. She argued that veterans and refugees should not be put “in opposition” to one another.
She said: “There have been years of council housing being sold off, and even social housing today is not affordable. It is time for a redistribution of wealth.
“We feel for ex-service people and refugees. They should not be put in opposition to one another.
“We are not a poor country. We can behave in a humane way; no-one should be sleeping on the streets. It does not need to be like this.
“People do not want to live in divided communities full of hate.”