Birmingham MP Al Carns has condemned the group known as Raise the Colours following reports of “intimidation and violence” in Stirchley on Thursday.
The Selly Oak MP has written to West Midlands Police after videos emerged on social media of heated confrontations between the group, known for putting flags up across the city, and residents.
Police officers were also called to the scene in Stirchley amid these tensions.
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The appearance of the flags in Birmingham has been the subject of a fierce debate, with those responsible insisting it’s a patriotic move to celebrate the country’s history and achievements.
But it also sparked deep concern from anti-racism campaigners and other Brummies amid claims those responsible are politically motivated and seeking to stir up division.
Al Carns said today that he was “seriously concerned” by the scenes in Stirchley yesterday and directly criticised Raise the Colours (RTC) amid reports of “intimidation”.
The group has often been seen in Stirchley putting flags up in the suburb and filming confrontations with locals.
“The Union Jack is a symbol of unity, not division, of patriotism, not polarisation,” Mr Carns wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
A general view of Stirchley in 2023/Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak(Image: Martin O’Callaghan/Birmingham Live/Nick Wilkinson)
“I condemn all attempts to hijack our flag and sew violence in our communities for political gain.”
In his letter to the acting chief constable of West Midlands Police, the MP wrote: “I am writing about recent events in Stirchley involving the group Raise the Colours and the issues being raised with me by my constituents.
“My office has heard from dozens of residents whose accounts describe incidents of harassment, intimidation and physical assault by members of this group, many of whom are not from Birmingham.
“Video evidence of some of these incidents is being shared online.”
He continued: “My constituents want reassurance.
“They want to know that incidents of this kind will be taken seriously, that evidence will be followed up and that Stirchley will not see a repeat of what has happened.
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“I would also welcome your thoughts on whether this is scope for the police and council to work together on preventative measures – include the kind of injunctions on unauthorised flag displays of any kind that have been used elsewhere in the country.
“We know that this is now becoming more of an issue because of the tension already created – and there is considerable provocation at the heart of this.
“Prevention matters as much as response right now.”
He added: “I am keen to work constructively with you on this. My constituents deserve to feel safe in their own neighbourhood and I know that is something we both want.”
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‘Our priority is the safety of residents’ – council
Birmingham City Council said in a statement today it was aware of the “incident in Stirchley and are aware that police were called to the scene”.
“We are continuing to monitor locations across the city where community concerns are being reported and are aware of increased tensions in some areas,” a spokesperson for the council said.
“We are working closely with West Midlands Police, supporting their enquiries and any follow-up action that may be required. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of residents, staff, contractors and the wider community.
“We encourage all residents to act responsibly and respectfully to help maintain calm, reduce the risk of intimidation, and support community cohesion during this period.
“Birmingham is a proud and welcoming city, and we recognise the importance of national flags to many residents,” they added.
Birmingham City Council House in Victoria Square(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
“The Union Flag flies outside the Council House every day, reflecting both national pride and the diverse communities that make this city what it is.”
Raise the Colours has been contacted for comment.
The group says on its website that its flags are “not about division”, they promote a message of “unity” and that it is committed to “lawful civic activism”.
“We do not encourage vigilante behaviour or unauthorised action of any kind,” RTC adds.